Aerogel insulation applications for liquid hydrogen launch vehicle tanks

Solutions to thermal insulation problems using aerogel beads were demonstrated for space launch vehicles using a model of the space shuttle external tank's liquid hydrogen (LH2) intertank. Test results using liquid helium show that with aerogel, the nitrogen mass inside the intertank is greatly reduced and free liquid nitrogen is eliminated. Physisorption within the aerogel was also investigated, showing that the sorption ratio (liquid nitrogen to aerogel beads) is about 62%. The insulating effectiveness of the aerogel shows that cryopumping is driven by thermal communication between warm and cold surfaces. This technology can solve heat transfer problems and augment existing thermal protection systems on launch vehicles.