Abstract: Systems and methods for providing thermal systems having one or more radiators that each incorporate one or more heat pipe matrices are provided. Each heat pipe matrix includes at least one spreader heat pipe element and a plurality of lateral heat pipe elements. The lateral heat pipe elements can extend in a direction that is generally transverse to a direction in which the spreader heat pipe element extends. Each lateral heat pipe element includes a portion that is thermally coupled and parallel to a portion of at least one spreader heat pipe element. Multiple heat pipe matrices can be thermally coupled to one another by jumper heat pipes to form heat pipe networks.