Aerogels For Common Aero Vehicle Payload and Avionics Isolation

Aspen Aerogels, Inc plans to demonstrate an aerogel-based thermally insulating, shock and vibration isolation material intended for use in aerospace payload and avionics applications. The launch weight of the Common Aero Vehicle (CAV) will be reduced, payload volume capacity increased and its operational reliability increased by using flexible aerogel composites over conventional materials. The advantages of the proposed core material over other materials are: · 2-3 fold (or higher) improvement in thermal performance per unit thickness · Density less than 6 pounds per cubic foot · Multifunctional characteristics - thermal insulation, blast protection, shock mitigation During the Phase I program, Aspen Aerogels established the key thermal properties of various flexible aerogel composite blanket materials and identified potential stack-ups of materials. In Phase II, the payload and avionics insulation isolation systems will be designed, optimized and encapsulated. The encapsulated prototypes will be tested against the program's high acoustic levels, high shock loads, and severe vibration loads with guidance from team partner Boeing, a potential vehicle prime contractor for CAV.