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Applications of Aerogels in Space Exploration

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Springer Handbook of Aerogels

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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 Laboratory. 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.

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Acknowledgments

The research described in this publication was carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under a contract with the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. Copyright 2018. All right reserved.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Analytical Chemistry and Material Development, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Steven M. Jones

  2. Mechanical Engineering, Materials Science and Engineering, and Macromolecular Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA

    Jeffrey Sakamoto

  3. Department of Thermal Energy Conversion Applications and Systems, California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, USA

    Jong-Ah Paik

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  1. Steven M. Jones
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Correspondence to Steven M. Jones .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Bottens, Switzerland

    Michel A. Aegerter

  2. Research and Development, Aspen Aerogels, Inc., Northborough, MA, USA

    Nicholas Leventis

  3. Siloxene AG, Dübendorf, Switzerland

    Matthias Koebel

  4. Aerogel Technologies, LLC, Boston, MA, USA

    Stephen A. Steiner III

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Jones, S.M., Sakamoto, J., Paik, JA. (2023). Applications of Aerogels in Space Exploration. In: Aegerter, M.A., Leventis, N., Koebel, M., Steiner III, S.A. (eds) Springer Handbook of Aerogels. Springer Handbooks. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-27322-4_60

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