In October RUAG Space, a leading supplier to the space industry, delivered a first flight model of the high-temperature insulation for the new European rocket Ariane 6. The insulation is being produced in the 2019 inaugurated new production floor in Berndorf, Austria, adjacent to the existing production facility.
The new high-temperature insulation for Ariane 6 consists of ceramic felts and fabrics. It protects some components of the rocket engines of the launcher. "On its journey from earth to space the insulation blanket has to withstand extreme heat of up to 1,500 degrees Celsius and extreme vibrations for a few minutes", explains Oliver Schiewe, Senior Vice President Product Group Spacecraft at RUAG Space.
Thermal insulation for new European rocket Ariane 6
RUAG Space delivers the thermal insulation for the new European rocket Ariane 6, built by ArianeGroup, on behalf of the European Space Agency (ESA). ArianeGroup is the lead industrial contractor for Europe's Ariane 5 and Ariane 6 launcher families, responsible for both design and the entire production chain, up to and including marketing by its Arianespace subsidiary. The first launch of Ariane 6 is scheduled for 2022. For Ariane 6 RUAG Space is also producing the payload fairing.
Thermal insulation for satellites and MRI scanners
At its facility in Berndorf, Austria, RUAG Space produces multilayer insulation for space (satellites, launchers) as well as for non-space areas. More than 130 satellites use thermal insulation from RUAG. As a spin-off from its space activities RUAG Space is also producing thermal insulation for medical applications, such as MRI scanners (Magnetic Resonance Imaging).
