Deployable Shroud for the International X-Ray Observatory

A document describes the design of a lightweight (between 100 to 200 kg), light-tight shroud of about 3.9 meters in diameter that could be stowed into a very small volume, and be deployed to 12 meters. The shroud will consist of two concentric multi-layer blankets (MLIs) that are constructed in an accordion shape. The blankets have 2-mil (≈50 μm) Kapton outer layers, and several ¼-mil (≈6.4-μm) thick inner layers with Dacron netting scrim cloth. The two blankets are separated by 10 cm that creates a “Whipple Shield” effect that reduces the number of micrometeorite penetrations from thousands to less than 30 over the satellite’s expected ten-year lifetime.