Low Density Insulations for Thermal Control in Planetary Environments at Moderate Gas Pressures

Multi-layer insulations consisting of stacks of reflecting foils reveal extremely low thermal conductances under vacuum conditions. Therefore, to improve the thermal performance of a pure foam and to reduce the area related mass, experimental and analytical investigations have been extended to a combined advanced multi-layer/foam insulation concept which consists of a stack of reflecting screens separated by thin foam layers. The predicted thermal performance of this improved insulation concept is compared with test results.