What is Beta Cloth?
- Beta cloth is a type of fireproof silica fiber cloth that was used in the production of Apollo/Skylab A7L space suits, the Apollo Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment, the McDivitt Purse, and in a variety of other specialized applications.
- It is a material similar to fiberglass that is woven into a very tiny mesh, resulting in a cloth that does not catch fire and will only melt at temperatures higher than 650 degrees Celsius.
- Teflon is used to coat the fibers so that they have less of a propensity to break or fold while they are being handled and so that they last longer.
History
- After the fatal fire that occurred on the Apollo 1 launch pad in 1967, in which the astronauts' nylon suits were completely consumed by the flames, NASA decided to add it into their spacesuits.
- Following the incident, NASA issued a requirement that any items with the potential to catch fire be removed from the spaceship as well as the space suits.
- A team from the Manned Spacecraft Center led by Frederick S. Dawn and including Matthew I. Radnofsky created the Manned Spacecraft Center Beta fabric. This team collaborated with Owens-Corning and DuPont to produce this fabric.
What Makes it Stand Out?
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Fire-resistant |
The fabric does not burn easily. Its melting point is over 650 degrees celsius. |
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Durable |
Due to the coating of Teflon, the fabric is durable and does not tear easily. |
Applications & Uses
- The fabric is used in the production of Apollo/Skylab A7L space suits, the Apollo Thermal Micrometeoroid Garment, the McDivitt Purse, and in a variety of specialized applications.
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