What is the gold stuff on satellites?

The yellowish-gold colour outside appears like the satellite has been wrapped in gold. It is called multi-layer insulation (MLI). It is very light but extremely strong. It is for thermal control and protects the delicate on-board instruments from the extreme temperatures of space.

What is MLI material?

Multi-layer insulation (MLI) is thermal insulation composed of multiple layers of thin sheets and is often used on spacecraft and Cryogenics. Also referred to as superinsulation, MLI is one of the main items of the spacecraft thermal design, primarily intended to reduce heat loss by thermal radiation.

What is multilayer insulation made of?

Multi layer insulation materials consist of lightweight reflective films assembled in many thin layers. These layers are typically made of polyimide and/or polyester films (according to design, could be from 5 to 30 layers) that are vapor deposited with 99.99\% aluminum, on one or both sides.

How is MLI made?

MLI is thermal insulation composed of multiple layers of thin sheets of reflective materials, separated by thin netting spacers. All blankets are made to order, so the MLI can be entirely bespoke to your application.

What kind of coating is put on satellites to make their surfaces tougher?

Silver: Silver is used in hundreds of applications across the world, and satellites and spacecraft are no different. In fact, NASA’s Magellan spacecraft used silver-coated quartz tiles as protection from solar radiation.

What is Mylar insulation?

Mylar is a heat-resistant polyester film that combines dielectric strength with moisture resistance. Mylar insulation is also flexible and won’t become brittle during normal use. This electrical insulator is useful over a wide range of temperatures, and resists many chemicals (except alcohol).

How much does multilayer insulation cost?

MLI products including Sigma’s 3100 Series and FiFoil’s VR Plus shield achieve R-4.5 to R-7.1 insulation for 10 to 20 cents per square foot. Contractors and developers don’t need to be told how valuable cutting insulation costs while using less space can be to their margins.