MLI Outer Protective Cover
Beta-Cloth / Teflon Outer Cover for Atomic Oxygen / MMOD
The MLI outer protective cover is an exterior barrier constructed from Teflon-coated silica-glass Beta-cloth that shields multi-layer insulation blankets from micrometeoroid and orbital debris strikes and surface erosion. On the lunar surface, unattenuated ultraviolet radiation, abrasive regolith dust, and hypervelocity particle impacts degrade exposed materials and compromise underlying reflective insulation layers. Requiring zero electrical power and weighing 0.2 kg/m² with a nominal assembly mass of 10 kg, the cover provides tear- and dust-resistant physical protection rated for a 25-year operational lifetime and a mean time between failures of 500,000 hours.
Outer cover layer (Beta-cloth / Teflon) of MLI blanket protecting reflective layers from MMOD and surface erosion.
Purpose
Outer cover layer (Beta-cloth / Teflon) of MLI blanket protecting reflective layers from MMOD and surface erosion.
Context
Child of L2-PTC-MLI within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Beta-cloth (silica-glass fabric coated with Teflon)
- ▸Tear/abrasion resistant
- ▸UV and atomic-oxygen resistant
- ▸Outer dust resistant
- ▸Robotic-handlable for replacement
Typical implementations
- ▸ISS exterior MLI Beta-cloth heritage
- ▸Apollo / Shuttle MLI outer layer
- ▸Aerospace exterior insulation
Lunar considerations
- ▸MMOD-tolerant outer layer
- ▸Long-life Teflon coating in lunar UV
- ▸Replaceable blanket panel via L1-MNT
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Outer cover layer (Beta-cloth / Teflon) of MLI blanket protecting reflective layers from MMOD and surface erosion. |
| areal density kg per m2 | 0.2 |
Physical
| mass kg | 10 |
| materials | Beta-cloth (Teflon-coated silica), Teflon film alternative |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 0 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 25 |
| mtbf hours | 500000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Outer protection
Requires
- Production
- Replacement
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "MLI Outer Protective Cover" (L3-PTC-MLI-OUTER). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-PTC-MLI-OUTER
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.