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A lightweight, flexible, layered insulation composed of glass or ceramic fabric covered with a ceramic coating and overlying an insulating felt made from needled polybenzazole (PBZ) material which is preferably polybenzoxazole (PBO), and which optionally contains a poly(1,3-phenylene isophtalamide)

A lightweight, flexible, layered insulation composed of glass or ceramic fabric covered with a ceramic coating and overlying an insulating felt made from needled polybenzazole (PBZ) material which is preferably polybenzoxazole (PBO), and which optionally contains a poly(1,3-phenylene isophtalamide) felt material, commercially known as Nomex™, either combined with the PBZ felt or layered beneath the PBZ felt as a separate layer. The insulation is readily applied to a reusable launch vehicle via a silicone adhesive.

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1. A flexible layered thermal insulation, comprising:a felt comprised at least partially of needled polybenzazole (PBZ) fibers, such felt having an outer mold line (OML) surface and an inner mold line (IML) surface; a layer of fabric comprised of ceramic fibers, affixed to the OML surface of the fel

1. A flexible layered thermal insulation, comprising:a felt comprised at least partially of needled polybenzazole (PBZ) fibers, such felt having an outer mold line (OML) surface and an inner mold line (IML) surface; a layer of fabric comprised of ceramic fibers, affixed to the OML surface of the felt; and, a ceramic coating applied to the fibers of the fabric layer, wherein the felt comprises PBZ fibers in combination with fibers of poly(1,3-phenylene isophtalamide) and wherein the felt has a higher percentage of PBZ fibers in the region adjacent the OML surface of the felt than the region adjacent the IML surface of the felt. 2. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the PBZ fiber is selectcd from polybenzoxazole (PBO) and polybenzothiazole (PBT).3. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the felt comprises a unitary layer of needled fibers, and wherein the composition profile of the felt is a gradient from the IML surface to the OML surface.4. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the felt is constructed of a layer of needled poly(1,3-phenylene isophtalamide) fibers joined by needling to a layer of needled PBZ fibers.5. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the basis weight of the felt is 14.5 oz/yd2 to 37.5 oz/yd2.6. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the fabric layer is comprised of fiber selected from the group consisting of quartz, 1,3-phenylene isophthalamide, and combinations thereof.7. The insulation of claim 1, wherein the ceramic coating is derived from an admixture of silica powder, colloidal silica, and an emittance agent.8. The insulation of claim 7, wherein the emittance agent is selected from the group consisting of silicon tetraboride, silicon hexaboride, silicon carbide, molybdenum disilicide, tungsten disilicide and zirconium diboride.9. A reusable thermal insulation attached to the surface of a vehicle, the insulation comprisinga felt comprised at least partially of needled polybenzazole (PBZ) fibers, such felt having an outer mold line (OML) surface and an inner mold line (IML) surface; a layer of fabric comprised of ceramic fibers, affixed to the OML surface of the felt; and a ceramic coating applied to the fibers of the fabric layer; wherein the felt comprises PBZ fibers in combination with fibers of poly(1,3-phenylene isophtalamide) and wherein the felt has a higher percentage of PBZ fibers in the region adjacent the OML surface of the felt than the region adjacent the IML surface of the felt; and, wherein the insulation is adhered to the surface of the vehicle with an adhesive bonding agent. 10. The insulation attached to a vehicle of claim 9, wherein the adhesive bonding agent is a silicone adhesive.11. A flexible layered thermal insulation, comprising:A felt comprised at least partially of needled polybenzazole (PBZ) fibers, such felt having an outer mold line (OML) surface and an inner mold line (IML) surface; a layer of fabric comprised of ceramic fibers, affixed to the OML surface of the felt; and a ceramic coating applied to the fibers of the fabric layer, wherein the layer of fabric is affixed to the OML surface of the felt by needling the felt and the fabric together thereby entangling the fibers of the felt with the ceramic fibers of the fabric. 12. The insulation of claim 11, wherein the ceramic coating also forms an adhesive bond between the ceramic fibers of the fabric layer and the needled fibers of the felt.13. A reusable thermal insulation attached to the surface of a vehicle, the insulation comprising:a felt comprised at least partially of needled polybenzazole (PBZ) fibers, such felt having an outer mold line (OML) surface and an inner mold line (IML) surface; a layer of fabric comprised of ceramic fibers, affixed to the OML surface of the felt; and a ceramic coating applied to the fibers of the fabric layer, wherein the layer of fabric is affixed to the OML surface of the felt by needling the felt and the fabric together thereby entangling the fibers of the felt with the ceramic fibers of the fabric; and, wherein the insulation is adhered to the surface of the vehicle with an adhesive bonding agent. 14. The insulation attached to a vehicle of claim 13, wherein the adhesive bonding agent is a silicone adhesive.