Aldrin Next to Solar Wind Experiment during Apollo 11, 1969. Image from Nasa.
Originally developed in response to the 1967 Apollo 1 fire, Beta Cloth has continuously played an important role in space exploration, particularly in protecting crewed spacecraft and the astronauts who fly in them.
Beta Cloth: A Material Born From The Apollo Program
Almost 60 years ago, NASA’s mission to land the first humans on the Moon was nearly derailed by tragedy. During a ground test of the Apollo 1 command module, a fire swept through the spacecraft, destroying the module and killing the three astronauts inside.
In the aftermath, NASA undertook a major redesign of the Apollo command module and reexamined every element of astronaut safety, including the materials used in space suits.
Engineers needed an outer layer that could meet a demanding set of requirements: it had to be durable and strong, yet lightweight and flexible, while also resisting combustion in the harsh conditions of spaceflight.
The iconic white colour of Beta Cloth - present on the multilayer blankets that insulate the International Space Station and the A7L space suit worn in Apollo missions has a purpose: To provide high resistance to solar and vacuum ultraviolet radiation.
Beta cloth emerged from a close collaboration between NASA with companies such as Owens-Corning Fiberglass and DuPont, combining advanced glass fiber technology with specialised coatings expertise.
The material was later produced solely by Chemfab, now Versiv Composites.
What is Beta Cloth composed of?
Beta Cloth is a woven fibreglass fabric coated with PTFE. This construction combines the thermal stability and nonflammability of glass fibres with the chemical resistance, low surface energy, and protective characteristics of PTFE.
Its very tight weave helps mitigate the destructive effects of atomic oxygen in low-Earth orbit, operating exceptionally well in harsh space environments, including satellite, launch vehicle, rover, space habitat, and space station interior and exterior surface protection applications.
The iconic white colour of Beta Cloth, present on the multilayer blankets that insulate all manned space missions from NASA - from the A7L space suit worn in Apollo missions to the International Space Station, and now Artemis - has a purpose: To provide efficient thermal control and protection against solar and vacuum ultraviolet radiation.
Beta cloth can be combined with unique coatings and other material laminations with other high-performance materials, supporting new space requirements and Multilayer Insulation applications.
Versiv Composites: Sole Producer of Beta Cloth
As space exploration intensifies, we are committed to provide and develop the new generation of Beta Cloth products working with our partners while continuously developing our R&D capabilities.
Beta Cloth Fabric continues to meet key specifications, including those of NASA (such as ASTM E595), Northrop Grumman, and Lockheed Martin.
Interested in learning more about Versiv Beta Cloth?
Contact our specialists today.
Beta® is a registered trademark of Advanced Glassfiber Yarns LLC (AGY).
