Patent — available for licensing
Cryogenic Selective Surfaces
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
Thermal control coatings, i.e. coatings with different visible versus infrared emission, have been used by NASA on the Orbiter and Hubble Telescope to reflect sunlight, while allowing heat rejection via infrared emission. However, these coatings absorb at least 6% of the Sun's irradiant power, limiting the minimum temperature that can be reached to about 200 K. NASA needs better solar reflectors to keep cryogenic fuel and oxidizers cold enough to be maintained passively in deep space for future missions. This new thermal control coating material, developed for use as a spray on coating or rigid tiles, reflects essentially all solar radiation in the space environment. The novel material has the potential to be an enabler for long-term storage of cryogenic liquids and propellants in space. It can also support the long-term operation of low-temperature devices and systems used on space craft.