COLD-SPOT CALCULATOR

The Physics Behind the Panel

This calculator models heat transfer through a composite barrier system: titanium alloy hull (κ = 6.7 W/m·K), vacuum-gap multilayer insulation (effective κ ≈ 0.002 W/m·K per layer), and sintered regolith blanket (κ = 0.015 W/m·K). The math pulls from Apollo Passive Thermal Control studies and Mars Pathfinder entry telemetry.

Why it matters: On the St. Johns, a cold front means you reef early. On Mars, it means your life support dies in 47 minutes if the margin collapses. This isn't poetry—it's the difference between a colony that breathes and one that freezes.

Field Notes: I calibrated these constants against the 2026 dome breach simulation. The regolith depth slider accounts for radiation shielding bonus—every meter adds 12% thermal mass retention.