Nonwovens in outer space

The European Space Agency launched a satellite in December 2013 that will survey an unprecedented one percent of the 100 billion stars in our galaxy. Technical Fibre Products (TFP), Kendal, England, provided specialty nonwoven fabrics incorporated into the satellite GAIA’s solar shield, part of the multi-layer insulation that manages temperature extremes in space. TFP develops and manufactures a range of nonwovens, including components such as carbon, aramid, glass, thermoplastic and metal coatings, quartz, silicon carbide and pure metals. Applications for TFP nonwovens include high-temperature thermal insulation, passive fire protection, cryogenic storage and power generation.