The trend to smaller satellites with limited resources in weight and power requires a new approach to thermal control to replace heaters with emittance‐controlled radiators. There are a number of approaches to variable emittance radiators such as variable emittance coatings or louvers. This paper describes an actively controlled radiator based on a micro electromechanical (MEMS) thermal switch. The switch operates by electrostatically switching a high emittance membrane in and out of contact with the substrate. The radiator is covered with an array of large numbers of these switches, which allows an almost digital control of the apparent emittance of the radiator. The thermal and electromechanical design of the MEMS device is discussed. A proof‐of‐concept design has been fabricated and tested that uses a gold membrane suspended on polymer posts. In the open position, actuation voltages range from 8 to 25 volts; this was consistent with our electromechanical model for the devices. © 2004 American Institute of Physics