Ultra-Lightweight Aerogel Superinsulation as an MLI Replacement

Lightweight aerogel composites developed at Aspen Aerogels, Inc. have been evaluated as potential replacement of Multi-Layer Insulation (MLI) in space based platforms. The thermal performance of aerogel in vacuum (from cryogenic temperatures to 160°C) and its outgassing rates at 10^– torr and ambient temperature was tested. With a density of 0.03g/cc and thermal conductivity below 1mW/mK at 5 x 10^– torr, the nanoporous flexible aerogel can give excellent thermal and micrometeorite protection at launch and in LEO. The composites are easier to install than MLI and have more consistent thermal performance irrespective of inadvertent compression during installation on complex shaped structures. The extremely fast outgassing rates and low residuals make aerogel composites desirable for space use and hold great promise for efficient thermal management of cryogenic subsystems and optics on space platforms.