Selectable Wide-Range Epsilon and Alpha Thermostate via Electronically-Controlled Reflectance (SWEATER) for Spacecraft

Thermal control is a critical issue for space-based systems. Continual temperature swings lead to component failures. Physical Sciences Inc. (PSI) and its subcontractor ILC Dover have developed SWEATER device technology that employs thin-film, variablesolar absorbance, and variable infrared emissivity. The resulting devices will be lightweight, require low power, and can be bonded to spacecraft skin for active control. In the Phase I SWEATER program, PSI has demonstrated the feasibility of extremelylightweight variable solar absorbance devices with fixed high emissivity. The Phase I will extend this effort to demonstrate the feasibility of variable emissivity devices. PSI/ILC propose a Phase II program to develop optimized, functionally tested and space environment tested prototypes of variable solar absorbance and variable emissivity SWEATER devices. The devices will be used to design, develop, and fabricate aprototype sweater, i.e., an active thermal control blanket, incorporating the two device types. During Phase II space flight opportunities will be identified for testing in space in the Phase III program.