In Development
Quest is always looking for new ways to push the envelope. Technologies currently in development include:
Variable Spacecraft Radiators
Traditional louver-style radiators have 5:1 turndown ratios. Quest is working on both passive and active radiator solutions with turndown ratios of 36:1.
Development status : TRL-5
Deployable Sunshields
Precise engineering of IMLI panel stiffness, fold lines, and packaging enables self-deployment for high-performance sunshields, which are commonplace on large spacecraft.
Development status : TRL-3
Launch Vehicle IMLI
Ruggedized IMLI on fairing outer mold lines can withstand launch aero-loading, with 68-fold reduction in heat flux compared to SOFI and one-third the mass.
Development status : TRL-4
Lightweight Liquid Helium Dewars
An aluminum outer wall as thin as 0.015” to 0.030” is spacer-supported, allowing up 10-fold mass reduction while maintaining critical thermal targets for airborne Liquid Helium dewars.
Development status : TRL-4
Commercial Superinsulation
An extruded spacer is in development as superinsulation for appliances, supply chains, and commercial cryogenics. Five layers would be only 0.19” thick and have 97% lower heat flux than 3-4″ of foam.
Development status : TRL-5
IMLI 2.0
A new generation of Tripod spacer is in development that would enable enhanced thermal performance and longer standoff distances for embedded MMOD ballistic layers. Early models indicate 20 – 40% lower heat flux per layer compared to current IMLI!
Development status : TRL-2
Micrometeoroid/Orbital Debris IMLI
Quest IMLI spacers support ballistic layers such as Kevlar, Nextel, or Beta cloth embedded in the blanket structure. These structures combine a highly efficient multi-shock MMOD shield with integrated thermal insulation into a single system.
Development status : TRL-5
High Temperature MLI
High Temperature solutions in development use engineered metallic and ceramic discrete spacers and metal foil radiation barrier layers.
Development status : TRL-2
Contact Quest Thermal for more information on these technologies and how we can apply them to your application!