NASA awards Quest Phase II contract for CLRMLI R&D
NASA has selected Quest for an SBIR Phase II R&D contract to continue development of Cellular Load Responsive MLI (CLR). CLR is a high performance insulation system for launch vehicles that provides high performance both in-air and in-space, and could replace problematic SOFI on launch vehicle. The Phase I program successfully demonstrated the feasibility of the CLR, with a prototype with measured heat fluxes of 46 W/m2 in-air and 11 W/m2 in-vacuum (compared to SOFI with 236 W/m2). CLRMLI is a novel technology with a cryopumping cellular core containing LRMLI insulation layers. The self-pumping capability allows high thermal performance in-air and in-space. CLRMLI can provide ~80% lower propellant boiloff in launch vehicles, allowing larger payloads and increased coast times.