RADIANT BARRIER'S INTERESTING HISTORY WITH NASA®

In the late 1950s Clark E. Beck, PE, of Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton, Ohio engineered the development of radiant barrier technology for the space program. NASA was trying to find a way to protect the astronauts during space walks from the extreme temperature fluctuations in space, ranging from -459 degrees Fahrenheit to +455 degrees Fahrenheit. They discovered that they would need a seven-foot-thick protective layer on the space suit if they attempted to use traditional insulation. Obviously, this was not a practical solution. Instead of using traditional to insulate the suits, they turned to reflective technology, using aluminum foil radiant barrier to solve the problem.  NASA discovered this thin layer of aluminum worked much better than conventional insulation. The material provided a reflective surface that kept more than 95% of the radiant energy from ever reaching the interior of the space suit. They were able to maintain constant, comfortable temperatures inside the space suit by reflecting the heat of their own body back at the astronauts to keep them warm, while at the same time reflect the deadly radiation from the sun (radiant heat) out of the space suit to keep them cool.  

Radiant barrier has been in use by NASA since the Gemini and Apollo missions.  This insulation technology was the key element of the environment control system that allowed Apollo astronauts to work inside the Command Module wearing just their T-shirts, rather than bulky space suits.  Since those first missions, radiant barrier has been used on virtually all spacecraft, including unmanned missions where instruments required thermal protection. Just to name a few, this includes the James Webb Space Telescope and Skylab.  It is still being used today by companies like SpaceX, Boeing and Virgin Galactic during their private endeavors of space travel. Radiant Barrier is a Space Foundation Certified Space Technology™ and was inducted into the Space Technology Hall of Fame in 1996.

While radiant barriers have been around for longer than most people realize, the road to mainstream acceptance was not an easy one. The growth of the industry was faced with many challenges based on entrenched corporate interests and pushback from traditional mass insulation manufactures of fiberglass, cellulose and rock wool. These multi-billion-dollar corporations recognized the increasing popularity of radiant barriers and the highly competitive threat to their own products.  Through lobbyists backed by their deep pockets, they launched industrial association campaigns to hinder the development and acceptance of radiant barriers in the marketplace. Although the reflective insulation industry is now stronger than ever, this crusade is still going on today. However, with the determination of energy-efficient focused engineers, architects, builders and the reflective insulation industry itself, this technology is here to stay. Our partners at Radiant Barrier USA are at the forefront of this movement. Together with them, we are committed to changing the way the world see's insulation!

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