US 12,384,564 B2
On-demand multi-layer insulation, radiator panels including same, and space vehicles including such radiator panels
Lance M. Baird, Los Angeles, CA (US); Deborah Minnichelli, Redondo Beach, CA (US); Dwight L. Ritums, Torrance, CA (US); Jesse B. Tice, Torrance, CA (US); and Nadine Y. DeCino, Torrance, CA (US)
Assigned to Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed by Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation, Falls Church, VA (US)
Filed on Oct. 18, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/489,428.
Prior Publication US 2025/0128833 A1, Apr. 24, 2025
Int. Cl. B64G 1/50 (2006.01); B32B 15/08 (2006.01)
CPC B64G 1/503 (2013.01) [B32B 15/08 (2013.01); B32B 2255/205 (2013.01); B32B 2255/26 (2013.01); B32B 2307/202 (2013.01); B32B 2307/206 (2013.01); B32B 2307/304 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
15. A space vehicle, comprising:
a plurality of radiator panels, each of the plurality of radiator panels including,
a substrate of a radiator configured to facilitate emissivity of heat into and out of the space vehicle, and
a Multi-Layer Insulation comprising:
a fixed membrane adjoining the substrate and configured to facilitate the emissivity of the heat into and out of the space vehicle, the fixed membrane including a fixed electrical conducting layer;
a flexible membrane including a thermal insulator and a flexible electrical conducting layer, the thermal insulator comprising at least one layer of thermal insulation, the flexible membrane configured to furl to an undeployed state responsive to a stress gradient between layers thereof and to unfurl to a deployed state positioning the thermal insulator over the fixed membrane responsive to application of a voltage across the fixed electrical conducting layer and the flexible electrical conducting layer, the flexible membrane configured to reduce the emissivity of the radiator panel while in the deployed state relative to the emissivity of the radiator panel while in the undeployed state; and
at least one electrical insulating layer between the fixed electrical conducting layer and the flexible electrical conducting layer, the at least one electrical insulating layer chosen from a fixed electrical insulating layer of the fixed membrane positioned on a side of the fixed electrical conducting layer opposite the substrate and an inner electrical insulating layer of the flexible membrane positioned on an inner side of the flexible membrane adjacent to the fixed membrane; and
a controller operatively coupled to the Multi-Layer Insulation of each of the plurality of radiator panels and configured to cause the voltage to be applied across the fixed electrical conducting layer and the flexible electrical conducting layer to deploy the flexible membrane over the fixed membrane, the controller configured to control each of the plurality of radiator panels individually and independently cause the voltage to be applied across each respective pair of the fixed electrical conducting layer and the flexible electrical conducting layer.