Lightweight Vacuum Shells

Quest Thermal has worked on several R&D programs for NASA and Aerospace Primes developing novel thin, lightweight vacuum shells. Quest has both self-supported composite vacuum shell and spacer-supported metal or composite vacuum shell technologies and products.  This range of spacer insulation systems provide thermal performance and external pressure capabilities for various applications.

Multi-Environment MLI was designed, built and tested for NASA and provides low heat flux for both in-space cruise phase and on-Mars surface ISRU liquefaction and storage. Current configurations use 0.010” to 0.016” Aluminum vacuum shells over a 10-layer IMLI structure, and provide 0.19 W/m² (105K to 210K) in both hard vacuum and Mars surface conditions, with a low mass of 1.5 kg/m².

Quest’s Light Weight Dewar uses a spacer-supported vacuum shell insulation system that operates in soft vacuum of stratospheric operation. One tested configuration has 0.015” Al walls and Load Bearing IMLI for a 90% mass reduction from heavy vacuum shell over netting MLI, and up to 98% reduction in heat leak.

IMLI and thin, supported vacuum shells provide high thermal performance with low mass. Spacer-supported lightweight vacuum shells enable new capabilities and applications.  Contact Quest Thermal to discuss your application!