Patent ID: 7118076

Claim:
A satellite, in particular a telecommunication satellite, intended to be placed in a geostationary orbit, and comprising a structure having a north face and a south face oriented perpendicularly to the rotation axis of the Earth and an east face and a west face that are periodically exposed to solar radiation as the satellite orbits the Earth, said structure supporting equipment dissipating heat, the north, south, east and west faces comprising radiator panels that radiate into space heat dissipated by the equipment, and said satellite comprising at least one shelf to support said equipment and heat transfer means for transferring heat dissipated by said equipment to said north, south, east and west radiator panels; wherein said heat transfer means comprises at least one capillary pumped two-phase fluid loop; and wherein said fluid loop comprises at least one evaporator having an inlet and an outlet for a heat exchange fluid thermally connected to said equipment supported by said shelf, and four heat exchange fluid circulation branches each having one end connected to said inlet and one end connected to said outlet of said at least one evaporator, one of said heat exchange fluid circulation branches associated with each of said north, south, east and west faces, and each branch comprising a heat exchange fluid condenser thermally connected to the face with which said branch is associated.