Development of a Thermal Insulation System to Enable Planetary Exploration in Extreme Environments

This project will fabricate unique aerogels to serve as thermal insulators for instrumentation in extreme environment applications, such as a Venus camera system.

With NASA's recently announced Discovery Missions, VERITAS and DIVINCI+, there is a strong interest in the exploration of Venus. The next logical step is for a long-lived Venus lander. The Seismic and Atmospheric Exploration of Vensus (SAEVe) concept lander mission provides placeholders for two camera systems, using low temperature cameras and electronics to capture images during descent and on the surface. The polyimide (PI) aerogels developed in this project will provide the critical thermal insulation required to protect the temperature-sensitive electronics inside the camera system long enough to capture several images and transmit back to an orbiter.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

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