MLI Attachment Hardware
Velcro / Snap Fasteners + Standoffs for Blanket Mounting
Multi-layer insulation (MLI) attachment hardware comprises low-conductance titanium standoffs, stainless snap fasteners, and vacuum-rated Velcro patches designed to mount insulation blankets to structural surfaces while limiting parasitic thermal short-circuits to 0.1 W/m². In the lunar vacuum, heat transfer occurs solely through radiation and solid conduction, making mechanical penetrations severe thermal bridges across extreme temperature swings. To maintain a 50-year operational lifetime with zero power consumption, the assembly uses rigid standoffs to isolate blankets from structural substrates and incorporates robotic-mate-friendly snap fasteners that facilitate remote blanket replacement during panel-swap operations.
Attachment hardware (Velcro patches, snap fasteners, standoffs) mounting MLI blankets to spacecraft surfaces while minimising thermal short-circuits.
Purpose
Attachment hardware (Velcro patches, snap fasteners, standoffs) mounting MLI blankets to spacecraft surfaces while minimising thermal short-circuits.
Context
Child of L2-PTC-MLI within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Snap fasteners for robotic-replaceable blankets
- ▸Standoffs minimise direct thermal contact
- ▸Velcro patches for non-critical surfaces
- ▸Low-conductance materials (titanium standoffs)
- ▸Coordinated with L1-MNT panel-swap procedures
Typical implementations
- ▸NASA MLI standard fasteners
- ▸ISS MLI mounting
- ▸Aerospace blanket attachment
Lunar considerations
- ▸Robotic-mate-friendly fastener design
- ▸Long-life titanium standoffs
- ▸Replacement at panel-swap
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Attachment hardware (Velcro patches, snap fasteners, standoffs) mounting MLI blankets to spacecraft surfaces while minimising thermal short-circuits. |
| thermal short circuit w per m2 | 0.1 |
Physical
| mass kg | 5 |
| materials | Titanium standoffs, Stainless snap fasteners, Vacuum-rated Velcro |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 0 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 50 |
| mtbf hours | 1000000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Blanket attachment
Requires
- Mounting boss interface
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "MLI Attachment Hardware" (L3-PTC-MLI-ATTACH). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-PTC-MLI-ATTACH
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.