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This paper contains details of the radiative analysis of a hypothetical comet rendezvous spacecraft inspired by current ESA studies. The scenario would at first seem to be beyond the analysis capability of the ESARAD software, ESA's Radiative Analysis Software. This paper describes how by reverting from the ESARAD Graphical User Interface (GUI) to the underlying ESARAD modelling language such complex analyses can be successfully approached.

ESARAD is an integrated suite of analysis tools for thermal radiative analysis. The suite provides modules for: • Geometry Definition; • Calculation of view factor, radiative exchange factor and solar, albedo and planet flux results; •Visualization of models in orbit with pre- and post-processing of radiative and thermal results; • Reporting of all aspects of the model; and • Generation of Input Files for Thermal Analysis tools. ESARAD is driven by a fully developed GUI, providing the user with a simple, intuitive windows, menus, forms interface to all its features. A modern, block structured language can also be used to run ESARAD. This gives the advanced user great power and flexibility to perform the most complex analyses. ESARAD was designed and developed between 1988 and 1991 to replace the VWHEAT software used by ESA at that time.