Abstract: Spacecraft are subject to electron bombardment resulting in electrical charge build-up on dielectric materials, such as thermal blankets, used to control heat gain and loss from the craft. The invention provides a multiple-layer material including inner and outer thermally insulating layers and an intermediate conductive layer, the outer insulating layer having a thickness such that many of the bombarding electrons will come to rest at or near the conductive layer and the resulting charge conducted away. Material may be in the form of a blanket with e.g. Kapton inner and outer layers or in the form of a glass tile. Material is also usable in other situations where electrical charge build-up may be a problem, e.g. for insulating explosive liquid containers.

Abstract: A laminar plastics material sheet including a transparent, electrically conductive layer used to cover the front and/or rear surfaces of a spacecraft solar array to alleviate electrostatic charge build-up thereon due to electron bombardment.