Beta Cloth - Protecting Space Missions for over 50 years.
Trusted since Apollo. Flying on the ISS today. Driving on Mars.
The Original - exclusively from Bron Aerotech
50 years of space heritage
Available today
The Original - exclusively from Bron Aerotech
50 years of space heritage
Available today
The Original - exclusively from Bron Aerotech
50 years of space heritage
Available today
Click on Headlines in timeline for more info
Beta Cloth — Space Heritage
These five milestones are highlights of a continuous legacy. Beta Cloth flies today on countless satellites, commercial spacecraft, and orbital platforms worldwide – the proven standard wherever extreme environments demand absolute reliability.
1967
Born in Crisis ⌄
A catastrophic fire during a ground test of the Apollo 1 command module nearly derailed NASA's mission to land the first humans on the Moon. In the aftermath, NASA reexamined every element of astronaut safety – including the materials used in space suits. Engineers needed an outer layer that was durable and strong, yet lightweight and flexible, while resisting combustion in the harsh conditions of spaceflight. Beta Cloth was born from that challenge.
1969
Apollo ⌄
Beta Cloth made its operational debut in the Apollo program – woven into the outer layer of the A7L spacesuit worn by Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin on the lunar surface. Combining tightly woven fiberglass with a PTFE coating, it delivered thermal stability, non-flammability, and outstanding protection against atomic oxygen and UV radiation. Its iconic white color was not cosmetic: it provided efficient thermal control in the extreme conditions of space.
1981
Space Shuttle ⌄
As NASA's Space Shuttle program took flight, Beta Cloth became a standard material across the program – protecting crew, payloads, and critical systems through 135 missions over 30 years. Its exceptional resistance to thermocycling, plasma, solar radiation, and vacuum conditions made it the go-to material wherever reliability was non-negotiable.
1998
International Space Station ⌄
Beta Cloth is woven into the multilayer insulation blankets that protect the International Space Station – inside and out. Since the first modules were launched in 1998, it has shielded the ISS from micrometeoroid impacts, atomic oxygen degradation, and the relentless thermal cycling of low-Earth orbit. It remains on the ISS today, after more than 28 years of continuous service.
2024+
Mars & Beyond ⌄
Beta Cloth has traveled to Mars on rovers and continues to protect next-generation satellites and spacecraft in orbit today. As space exploration intensifies – with Artemis returning humans to the Moon and commercial space expanding rapidly – Beta Cloth remains the space industry standard. Bron Aerotech is your trusted source, stocked and ready to support your program.
Trusted Across Every Space Program
Beta Cloth is the material of choice across the full spectrum of space exploration – from crewed missions to robotic science programs and commercial satellite constellations.
- Manned Spacecraft & Crew Vehicles
- Unmanned Spacecraft & Probes
- Satellites & Orbital Platforms
- Launch Vehicles
- Space Stations (Interior & Exterior)
- Mars Rovers & Planetary Exploration
- Space Habitats
- Lunar Infrastructure
Built to Protect. Engineered to Perform.
Beta Cloth is not a single-purpose material – it is a multi-functional protection system engineered for the compounding extremes of the space environment.
- Spacecraft MLI (Multi-Layer Insulation) outer layer
- Micrometeoroid & Orbital Debris (MMOD) Shielding
- Atomic Oxygen (AO) Mitigation in Low-Earth Orbit
- Light Blocking
- Surface Protection for Booms, Deployables & Extendable Structures
- Space Cargo Containers & Packaging
- Lunar Infrastructure Surface Protection
2 Versions of Beta Cloth
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BA 500 Beta Cloth
Standard Beta Cloth for space surface protection, MLI, and MMOD shielding applications. Silicone-free, non-flammable, and chemically inert with 30+ years of continuous space heritage.
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BA 500GW Beta Cloth Graphite Weave
ESD-performance variant with a woven-in graphite yarn grid for static dissipative applications in space. Identical thermal and mechanical performance to BA 500BC, with added ESD protection.
Technical Specifications – BA 500BC & BA 500BCGW
| Property | BA 500BC | BA 500BCGW |
|---|---|---|
| Standard Width | 51 in | 80 in |
| Coated Weight | 7.6 oz/yd² | 7.6 oz/yd² |
| PTFE Weight | 1.5 oz/yd² | 1.5 oz/yd² |
| Thickness | 8 mil | 8 mil |
| Breaking Strength (Min. Avg) | 95 x 90 lb/in | 95 x 90 lb/in |
| Trapezoidal Tear (Min. Avg) | 4 x 4 lb | 4 x 4 lbs |
| Elongation at Break | 2.0 x 2.0 % | 2.0 x 2.0 % |
| Abrasion Resistance | >750 Taber Cycles | >750 Taber Cycles |
| Thermal Emittance | >0.88 | >0.88 |
| Solar Absorptance | <0.15 | <0.15 |
| Solar Transmittance | <0.35 | <0.35 |
| PTFE Content | 17–22% | 10–27% |
| Grid Dimensions | – | 4 x 6 inches |
| Thermal Conductivity | 0.14 W/m·K | 0.14 W/m·K |
| Temperature Range | -240 to +500°F | -240 to +500°F |
| ESD Performance | – | ✓ |
| Silicone Free | ✓ | ✓ |