Abstract: A thermal insulating shipping container having an elongate rectangular box-like configuration, made up of panels, each having an evacuated area therein. Each panel comprises inner and outer panel sections each having inner and outer skins and a honeycomb core. Standoff units in the evacuated area resist compression loads exerted on the inner and outer panel sections, and a radiation shield is positioned in the evacuated area.

Abstract: A vacuum bag is established by affixing a raised ribbing inside the boundaries of a solid surface. The raised ribbing forms a closed configuration such as a rectangle or circle. A stretchable material is pulled tautly over the surface and across the raised ribbing. At points along the surface outside the raised ribbing the stretchable material is removably affixed to the surface by re-usable fasteners such as zippers, clamps or Velcro. The air-tight seal is formed between the stretchable material and the raised ribbing well removed from the point of affixing the stretchable material to the solid surface.