ILC has developed several technologies and approaches to facilitate the design of large, thin-film, multi-layer, light, thermal, and micrometeoroid/orbital debris shield structures. Inflatably deployed, rigidizable structures with embedded deployment control mechanisms, enable high packing efficiency sunshades to be developed for solar thermal and light protection. ILC continues to develop and test thin film membrane materials and rip-stop membranes to improve the durability of these structures over their life in space. ILC is currently testing the Inflatable Sunshield In Space (ISIS) for potential application on the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST).

For more information on Space Inflatables, please contact Cliff Willey.