Extendable origami multilayer insulation thermal characterization

Abstract

Spacecraft commonly use multilayer insulation (MLI) for passive thermal control, however deployable structures such as telescoping booms impose the need to stow MLI preflight and extend with the structure for in flight operation. This paper investigates an octagonal origami folding pattern that allows predictable stowage and extension of multilayer insulation. Feasibility was demonstrated to fold, compress and extend a MLI blanket comprising 10 layers of aluminized Kapton, each separated by a layer of scrim cloth. Both folded and unfolded 10-layer MLI blankets were tested in thermal vacuum to characterize heat leak of deployed configurations. The 10-layer origami folded configuration increased thermal conductance and radiative heat transport relative to the unfolded configuration. Degradation factors for heat transport were empirically found to be Mk=2.5±0.3 and Me=1.3±0.2 for effective thermal conductance and emittance, respectively.