Innovative Thermal Control for Spacecraft As a Flexible Optical Solar Reflector (FOSR)
Revolutionizing Spacecraft Thermal Control with Sunshade™ Technology
In the competitive space industry, the quest for innovative solutions to thermal control has taken a leap forward with DSI’s Flexible Optical Solar Rejector (FOSR) solution, Sunshade Tape. Designed for excellence, Sunshade Tape redefines performance, durability, and value for spacecraft and satellite applications.
The DSI Difference
Traditional Optical Solar Reflectors (OSRs) made from bonded glass, while offering exceptional optical properties (alpha/epsilon), come with high manufacturing and integration costs and risk of damage during installation. Our Sunshade Tape is a breakthrough alternative. Engineered to withstand the harsh realities of in-orbit environments, this next-generation technology has equivalent optical properties to OSRs while offering a more robust and cost-efficient solution.
With a 3M966 Pressure Sensitive Adhesive (PSA) backing, application of the Sunshade Tape is easier and much less labor-intensive than traditional OSRs.
Where other flexible alternatives, such as metal on polymer Second Surface Mirrors (SSMs), have performance degradation issues in MEO and GEO orbits, our Sunshade Tape emerges as a proven champion with negligible change in performance from Beginning of Life to End of Life.
Say goodbye to fragile, costly solutions and embrace the future of space innovation with the FOSR Sunshade Tape—the smarter, stronger, and more dependable alternative.
We currently offer two types of Sunshade:
- -1002 Thermal Control Grade High Reflectance
- -2002 (Next Gen) Thermal Control Grade High Reflectance
Custom cut sizes and shapes are available upon request.
Technical Information
Traditional multi-layer insulation (MLI) blankets for satellite and spacecraft use consist of a layer of metal coating on a plastic film. Several of these sheets are combined with insulating spacer layers to complete the assembly. This configuration provides highly efficient blocking of solar heat radiation, but the metal coating also absorbs and reflects radio frequencies, thus attenuating the signal and lowering data rates. To address this, a grid pattern is typically laser ablated in the metal film to allow some RF transmission. However, there remains a direct relationship between increased solar heat blocking and reduced data transmission in MLI blankets.
DSI Sunshade coatings are unique, all-dielectric thin films applied to polyimide sheets. They are used in a single-ply. The all-dielectric construction efficiently reflects solar heat radiation but is also virtually transparent at radio frequencies below 69 GHz.
