Abstract: As spacecraft electronic control and human support systems get increasingly sophisticated, protection for those systems becomes more critical. Multilayer insulation (MLI) is a common thermal protection system on spacecraft, and it includes layers of metalized film that may build up electrostatic charge that can be hazardous in many respects. MLI should be electrically grounded to prevent the unwanted electrostatic buildup while meeting thermal performance requirements. Aspects of the present disclosure involve a significant improvement in grounding methods within a multilayer insulation structure with minimal thermal performance degradation. Metalized spacers create electrical continuity through layers and may have only a single layer connecting to chassis ground. Multiple spacers can be utilized for larger blankets for grounding redundancy. Thermal performance penalty can be orders of magnitude smaller than conventional techniques.

Abstract: A vapor cooled insulation structure includes at least one vapor sealed layer, created with discrete spacers between two layers. A vapor transport layer is created within these layers through which a cold fluid may flow to intercept and remove heat from an underlying structure. In one example, the vapor cooled system carries cold vapor which is in direct contact with an underlying cryogenic tank structural support.

Abstract: An insulation panel includes a face sheet hermetically coupled to a plurality of structural walls to define a plurality of cell bodies, with each cell body positioned contiguously with an adjacent cell body. An insulation structure is disposed within each cell body and further includes a first radiant barrier layer, a second radiant barrier layer, and a spacer disposed between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer. Sealed cells formed by completing the cell bodies may contain a gas that condenses or freezes in response to cryogenic cooling of a structure to which the insulation panel is coupled. Load-responsive spacers may also be disposed between the insulation structure and the face sheet to support the face sheet while in atmospheric conditions and to disengage from the face sheet in low pressure environments, such as space.

Abstract: The invention provides improvements on thermal performance of multilayer insulation for hot and cold feedlines. Insulation on feedlines has always been problematic, and can perform ten times worse than tank insulation contributing as much as 80% of total system heat leak. The poor performance of traditional MLI wrapped on feed lines is due to compression of the layers, causing increased interlayer contact and heat conduction. The MLI performance is not only much worse than expected, but also difficult to predict. Spacer structures are presented which provide a well-defined, accurately characterized support between the thermal radiant barriers in a multilayer insulation. The invention provides a robust, structural insulation that is much less sensitive to wrap compression and installation workmanship allowing for more predictable, higher performance insulation structure.

Abstract: An insulation panel includes a face sheet hermetically coupled to a plurality of structural walls to define a plurality of cell bodies, with each cell body positioned contiguously with an adjacent cell body. An insulation structure is disposed within each cell body and further includes a first radiant barrier layer, a second radiant barrier layer, and a spacer disposed between the first radiant barrier layer and the second radiant barrier layer. Sealed cells formed by completing the cell bodies may contain a gas that condenses or freezes in response to cryogenic cooling of a structure to which the insulation panel is coupled. Load-responsive spacers may also be disposed between the insulation structure and the face sheet to support the face sheet while in atmospheric conditions and to disengage from the face sheet in low pressure environments, such as space.