Insulative Carbon Fiber Systems for Aerospace Applications

New insulative carbon-fiber composite systems have been developed for use in structural and thermal applications for the aerospace vehicle interface. The sandwich-type composite structure, including carbon fiber and aerogel blanket materials, is based on the previously disclosed family of hybrid laminate composites. Offering unique and tailorable combinations of structural and thermal properties, these insulative carbon fiber systems can be used in vehicle shroud and thermal protection system applications at the aerodynamic interface plane, panels between stages, or fairings for spacecraft equipment space of space launch vehicles. The novel, lightweight, fiber composite laminate system with reduced heat transfer also has increased impact resistance at low temperatures.