Research Status and Development Trend of Thermal Control Materials in Deep Space Extreme Thermal Environment

Abstract

Extreme environments such as extreme cool environment, extreme hot environment and gaseous environment will be encountered in deep space exploration; these environments pose great difficulties to the design of thermal control subsystem and put forward strict requirements for thermal control material. In view of future deep space exploration missions in China, the typical extreme thermal environment factors and their influences on the design of spacecraft thermal control subsystem were analyzed. The application and main performance of some new thermal control materials were discussed, and these new thermal control materials include high-temperature aerogel composites with maximum operating temperature of 1 200 oC, low density silica aerogel composites with a density lower than 30 kg/m³, transparent polyimide film and solar heat absorbing coating. The development trend for new thermal control materials was analyzed, such as light-weight heat-resistant materials in extreme high temperature environment and high-efficiency heat insulation materials in gaseous environment.

Keywords

deep space exploration / thermal environment / thermal control material / thermal protection