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The SHIIVER tank has arrived at NASA’s Marshall Center, where it will be sprayed with foam insulation.

SHIVER, a cryogenic test tank developed to assess heat intercept concepts, arrived at Marshall, just arrived. The tank will now receive heat sensors and spray-on foam insulation at Marshall before moving its way to Plum Brook Station for further insulation and trials.

A technical challenge that NASA is working to determine is how to manage very cold liquid propellants to be used as fuel for deep space missions. Heat intercept concepts such as advanced insulation blankets, foam insulation, and vapor-based cooling will be assessed with the Structural Heat Intercept Insulation Vibration Evaluation Rig or SHIIVER at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for application of its first round of insulation.

 “We need to get to a spot where we can preserve cryogenic liquid propellants for months to enable higher-performing operations for deep space travel. The state-of-the-art on-orbit storage of a liquid hydrogen tank is a few hours, achieving our current low-Earth orbit needs. We will need much more capable systems for deep space travel,” said Arthur Werkheiser, Marshall integration manager for the Evolvable Cryogenics Project (eCryo), a collaborative project between Marshall and NASA’s Glenn Research Center in Cleveland, Ohio. 

SHIVER is responsible for testing technologies to reach these propellants’ storage time in the cold enough environment to remain liquids that are usable as fuels. The tank was manufactured by Didion’s Mechanical in Bellevue, Ohio, and is run by the eCryo project.

Cryogenic propellants are gases such as hydrogen, that when chilled to subfreezing temps and condensed, form highly combustible liquids that can be used to propel space vehicles. Any influx of heat, including heat radiating from a test stand, can raise the propellants’ temperature and prompt them to boil. In normal upper-stage operations, boil-off is considered a lost propellant because it must be discharged from the vehicle to prevent the tank from over-pressurizing.

“If you want to get to Mars, you must prevent boil-off, or when you get there, you won’t have sufficient fuel left to get back,” said Werkheiser. Until now, boil-off hasn’t been a dilemma because the space shuttle and Apollo missions only required to retain cryogenic propellants in flight for minutes or hours rather than the months or years required for deep space missions.

While at Marshall, the tank will have sensors fitted to measure the heat that gets into the tank. The team will then implement spray-on foam insulation (SOFI) to the 13-foot-long tank in Marshall’s Thermal Protection System Facility. A rotisserie-style fixture provides for even spraying of large objects. Following SOFI trimming, the tank will undergo a white-light scan to cover its final dimensions to assist with eventual multi-layer padding (MLI) application. The SOFI and MLI will reduce future propellant storage tank heat leak while on the launch pad, subject to atmospheric temperature and pressure conditions.

“Glenn and Marshall share expertise in cryogenics and have worked on several of these projects together,” said Lauren Ameen, eCryo testing and validation cost account manager and SHIIVER deputy lead engineer at Glenn. “We are looking to develop cryogenic fluid management technologies that can be used in a future in-space cryogenic stage.”

After the spray-on foam insulation treatment, the tank will travel to NASA’s Plum Brook Station in Sandusky, Ohio, managed by Glenn, for assembly, integration, and testing in the B2 test chamber. The assembly will first undergo thermal vacuum testing with only SOFI on the tank surface. This will be the baseline heat load from which to assess future improvements. The tank will then be insulated on the top and bottom domes with MLI over the layer of SOFI and will undergo further cryogenic testing.

When the eCryo project testing is complete, the SHIIVER test tank will be retained as an asset for NASA that can be used for future cryogenic testing needs.

The eCryo project is led by Glenn, managed by the Technology Demonstration Missions Program, and sponsored by NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate.

For video footage of the SHIIVER tank and arrival at Marshall:

To learn more about NASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:

Closed-cell spray foam (also known as 2-pound foam) has a density of about 2 pounds per cubic foot and an R-value of 6 to 6.5 per inch. Because it is a denser material, closed-cell spray foam not only provides a vapor and water barrier to a home or structure but also adds additional structural strength. Closed-cell spray foam typically costs more than open-cell spray foam.

Because the cells in closed foam have their own structure and don’t share any structure with other cells, the foam has a higher plastic content and less air.  The industry standard for spray foam to qualify as “closed cell” is that greater than 90% of the cells are closed.

Advantages of Closed Cell Spray Foam

While open-cell and closed-cell foams are both polyurethane-based, the main difference between the two is that closed-cell foam is:

• Denser
  • Two and a half inches of closed-cell foam have a permeance of 0.8 per m.  Less water/air can pass through a closed-cell foam
• Heavier
  • Because closed-cell foam is denser, it provides added wall/structural strength.   One place that open-cell would be a better fit could be an attic or ceiling, due to weight.
• Provides better insulation and water barrier
  • Although it is typically more material (and therefore more costly) than open-cell spray foam, closed-cell foam is less permeable and more water-resistant.  This can prevent unwanted mold/moisture in hidden places.

Price Consideration

Although there are many advantages of having a closed spray foam insulation, the price is a drawback simply because there are more materials needed to create the denser insulation.  Closed-cell foam is more expensive per “R,”  so one can expect an R-10 of closed-cell to be costlier than an R-10 of open-cell.   There is more plastic used in closed-cell, and the chemicals used for a blowing agent in closed-cell foam is much more expensive than the water used in open-cell foam.  However, there are benefits of increased effectiveness and strength.  

Looking for a Spray Foam Supplier?

 The specialists at ArmorThane are a good place to go if you are looking for a foam supplier.

• Traditional insulation leaves gaps and spaces, where air infiltration becomes a major source of energy loss.
• Spray foam seals spaces completely, creating an effective vapor barrier that restricts air leakage
• For commercial and residential applications, spray foam presents the best air sealing properties and the highest R-Value per inch.
• It’s no secret that proper insulation provides significant annual savings on heating and cooling costs.
• Buildings and homes protected with spray foam can easily recoup the install costs through lower utility bills.

Installing spray foam is easy to do and will dramatically improve a building or home’s energy efficiency and thermal resistance. Closed-cell foam is so efficient; just 3 inches of it applied inside your wall cavity provides an insulation value of over R18!. Spray foam is specially formulated for both new construction and existing homes and buildings.

• Closed Cell, Fast Rise Formula: For new construction and open walls. An ideal choice for attic insulation and crawl spaces.
• Closed Cell, Slow Rise Formula: For existing walls and retrofits
• Open Cell Formula: For soundproofing and other specialty applications.

Open Cell vs. Closed Cell Foam: Which Should I Choose?

So, you are trying to determine which type of foam you should use for your jobs?

It’s trickier than it seems – though closed cell and open cell foam both insulate a home, they do it in different ways. Please read our guide to examine open-cell vs. closed-cell foam and help you pick the best product for your project.