Space Qualified Stray Light Suppression Coatings

Advanced Optical Black Coating Technology

Performance data can be downloaded from the links at the bottom of this page.

Surrey NanoSystems' Vantablack, space qualified super black coatings are used to suppress stray light in optical systems, and for black body calibration of IR camera systems. The coatings offer high performance and spectrally flat absorption from UV to near-millimeter (THz) spectral range.

Why use our coatings in space?

The space environment presents many significant challenges for optical instrument and camera systems designers due to the high levels of light pollution from the sun, moon and earth. These challenges are compounded by the hostile operating environment and the rigours of launch.

The launch weight of the instrument package and its size are also critical considerations. Reducing the size and weight of a baffle or calibration system is made possible by our coatings' exceptional levels of light absorption from all angles, and their very high emissivity across the IR spectrum.

Technical performance data is available for download at the bottom of this page. For additional information, or to discuss a specific application please email the Technical Team or call direct on +44 1273 515800

December 2015 - First Launch of Vantablack S-VIS into Low Earth Orbit on ISRO PSLV C29

 

Image: ISRO

November 2018 - First launch of Vantablack S-VIS to the ISS on an Antares NG10 Rocket from Wallops Island

 

Image:NASA/Patrick Black

Side by side view of an Vantablack S-VIS coated baffle next to an uncoated unit.

Baffle Material: 6061-T6 aluminium with a MIL-DTL-5541, Type I, Class III chromate finish applied prior to Vantablack S-VIS coating. 

Ø75mm Vantablack S-IR coated blackbody source plate (Ɛ 0.997 at 10µm) in black anodized aluminium 6061-T6

 

 

Vantablack S-VIS deployment in ram and wake on the ISS in 2018

 

Image: NASA/AlphaSpace

Space Heritage

Vantablack S-VIS was first launched into a 550km equatorial low earth orbit in 2015. Used on dual star-trackers on a disaster monitoring satellite, the coatings have performed flawlessly. Vantablack S-VIS has now accumulated over 10 years in LEO (wake and zenith) on baffles and calibration systems. Vantablack S-VIS & S-IR have flown on the ISS and have been flight-qualified for blackbody calibration units, complex baffles and spectrometers.

Vantablack coatings significantly improve stray light performance and reduce system complexity. This represents real savings to end users in instrument weight, volume and manufacturing costs 

Vantablack space qualified coatings have been tested in the following areas:

  • Optical performance (THR, BRDF and TIS)
  • Outgasing
  • Thermal Stability
  • Damp Heat
  • Gamma and Proton radiation
  • PFO through shock and vibration
  • TVAC
  • ATOX

Please contact the technical team for information relating to your design and how we can work together.

Downloads

Space

S-VIS/S-IR Handling Instructions

S-VIS/S-IR Handling Instructions

Download

Please fill out the following details. We cannot accept private email addresses such as GMail and Yahoo. Once the form is submitted, your download will be emailed to you.

Please provide your first name
Please provide your surname
Please provide a valid email address
×
ISO 9001: 2015 & ISO 14001: 2015

ISO 9001: 2015 & ISO 14001: 2015

ISO Quality Certificates

Download

Please fill out the following details. We cannot accept private email addresses such as GMail and Yahoo. Once the form is submitted, your download will be emailed to you.

Please provide your first name
Please provide your surname
Please provide a valid email address
×
SDS Bonded Vantablack S-VIS & S-IR

SDS Bonded Vantablack S-VIS & S-IR

PDF SDS for Vantablack S-VIS and S-IR

Download

Please fill out the following details. We cannot accept private email addresses such as GMail and Yahoo. Once the form is submitted, your download will be emailed to you.

Please provide your first name
Please provide your surname
Please provide a valid email address
×
Vantablack S-VIS - Space

Vantablack S-VIS - Space

Vantablack S-VIS Space performance data

Download

Please fill out the following details. We cannot accept private email addresses such as GMail and Yahoo. Once the form is submitted, your download will be emailed to you.

Please provide your first name
Please provide your surname
Please provide a valid email address
×
Vantablack S-IR Datasheet

Vantablack S-IR Datasheet

Vantablack S-IR is an IR enhanced version of Vantablack S-VIS, with exceptional performance from 3um - 16um.

Download

Please fill out the following details. We cannot accept private email addresses such as GMail and Yahoo. Once the form is submitted, your download will be emailed to you.

Please provide your first name
Please provide your surname
Please provide a valid email address
×
Optical performance and space qualification data_V6.2_02.02.23

Optical performance and space qualification data_V6.2_02.02.23

PDF data covering optical, VUV, radiation thermal and outgassing properties of Vantablack S-VIS/IR for space applications

Download

Please fill out the following details. We cannot accept private email addresses such as GMail and Yahoo. Once the form is submitted, your download will be emailed to you.

Please provide your first name
Please provide your surname
Please provide a valid email address
×