Space Shuttle Orbiter - Reusable surface insulation subsystem thermal performance

Studies on high-temperature multilayer thermal insulations

“…Radiation heat transfer is reduced by means of highly reflective screens which are separated by polymeric or ceramic spacers for the sake of reducing solid conduction in these superinsulations [3]. For hightemperature reentry applications into the earth atmosphere the insulations are of different design [4,5]. At temperatures above 300°C radiation becomes the dominant mode of heat transfer and this makes radiation screens suitable for high temperature applications at ambient pressure.…”

“…The screens are positioned in a sandwich with optically dense spacer materials. Large research efforts have been undertaken to develop MTIs for space applications, especially heat shields for reentry vehicles [4,5] as well as in the use for high temperature (MCFC and SOFC) fuel cells [6,7].…”