Geek Speak

The world of cold is getting hot! According to James Fesmire of the Cryogenics Test Laboratory at NASA Kennedy Space Center, superconducting power distribution, hydrogen-based transport and other low-temperature applications will require more efficient approaches to energy management. New cryogenic thermal insulation materials, including aerogel blankets and beads and polyimide foams, will soon be widely available. Other materials and composites are in development.