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 the 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.
Traditional Optical Solar Reflectors (OSRs) made from bonded glass, while offering exceptional optical properties (alpha/epsilon), come with high manufacturing and integration costs and riskof 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 of 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.
PRODUCT OVERVIEW
Sunshade is the world’s best thermal control material with ESD and RF transmissive performance. It is targeted for use on spacecraft and satellite systems operating in LEO, MEO and GEO. Sunshade is now available in free film or tape versions. It is offered commercial off-the-shelf (COTS), is space qualified and flight proven.
THE DSI DIFFERENCE
DSI Sunshade was originally developed in collaboration with satellite system engineers looking for improved thermal control using RF-transmissive materials with added electro-static discharge (ESD) properties. Sunshade’s continuous coating is distinct from patterned grid films in that no metallic materials are used in its construction.
DSI Sunshade comes in sizes up to 2.5 ft x 10 ft. A low emissivity coating on the back surface reduces thermal load into the satellite and balances the stress of the front surface coating. This makes the product easy to roll and unroll, and renders it sufficiently flexible and conformable to enable it to be easily wrapped onto complex shaped radome assemblies.
DSI Sunshade’s tape version allows for easy peel & stick thermal control.
Get started with Sunshade today. Reach out to our team or request a quote.
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 a unique, all dielectric thin film 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.
DSI SUNSHADE ADVANTAGES
- Sunshade Tape is very easy to apply
- Delivers high rejection of incident solar heat energy
- RF transparent at frequencies in the L, S, C, X, Ku, K, Ka, and V Bands
- Flexible, extremely light weight and conformable film
- Large Area: up to 2.5 ft x 10 ft
- ESD coting allows static charge to bleed off
FUNCTIONAL PROPERTIES
- Solar Reflectance ≥ 86%
- Solar Transmittance ≤ 2%
- External surface provides ESD with sheet resistance of 2.5E5 to 1.0E9 Ohm/square
- Hemispherical emissivity ≥ 0.80 at 300K
- RF insertion loss negligible from 1 GHz — 69 GHZ
DSI SUNSHADE APPLICATIONS
- Tape version is an excellent Flexible OSR (FOSR)
- Thermal Control in LEO, MEO, GEO & Beyond
- Satellite radomes
- Antenna covers
- Apertures for thermal control and ESD control
