Aerogels in Space Exploration

The definite, undisputed applications of aerogels remain in Cherenkov radiation detectors, thermal insulation and in space exploration. But, as evidenced by this Aerogels Handbook, it is expected to be a short matter of time before the concerted efforts of industry, academia and government lead to the wide use of those remarkable materials in construction, transportation, health care and the National Defense. 

Abstract NASA has used aerogel in several space exploration missions over the last two decades. Aerogel has been used as a hypervelocity particle capture medium (Stardust) and as thermal insulation for the Mars Pathfinder, Mars Exploration Rovers, and Mars Science Lander. Future applications of aerogel are also discussed and include the proposed use of aerogel as a sample collection medium to return upper atmosphere particles from Mars to earth and as thermal insulation in thermal-to-electric generators for future space missions and terrestrial waste-heat recovery technology. 

While large commercial markets have been long in coming, aerogels have been used in NASA projects, such as Mars exploration vehicles and a space probe capturing comet-tail dust. 

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