US 2019/0337646 A1 · SPACECRAFT

Abstract

Disclosed is a spacecraft including a body having a face, a radiator carried by the face, and a thermal insulation device capable of thermally insulating the body from the space environment. The thermal insulation device includes a flexible insulating sheet that is movable between an unfolded position in which the flexible sheet covers a coverable area of the radiator, and a position folded on itself in which the coverable area of the radiator is exposed to the space environment. The flexible sheet includes multiple pleats which extend perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the flexible sheet, the pleats being folded against one another when the flexible sheet is in the folded position, the pleats being spaced apart from one another when the flexible sheet is in an unfolded position.

Claims21

Dependent claims

Spacecraft (2) comprising a body (4) having at least one face (6, 16, 18), at least one radiator (22) carried by said face (6, 16, 18), and at least one thermal insulation device (28) capable of thermally insulating the body (4) from the space environment;

said thermal insulation device (28) comprising at least one flexible insulating sheet (32, 34) that is movable between an unfolded position in which the flexible sheet (32, 34) covers a coverable area (36) of the radiator, and a position folded on itself in which said coverable area (36) of the radiator is exposed to the space environment,
wherein the flexible sheet (32, 34) comprises multiple pleats (43) which extend perpendicularly to the direction of movement of the flexible sheet (32, 34), said pleats (43) being folded against one another when the flexible sheet (32, 34) is in the folded position, said pleats (43) being spaced apart from one another when the flexible sheet (32, 34) is in an unfolded position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Spacecraft

Life of this patent

Spacecraft

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims21