What's the role of the chainmail and scale armor on InSight's WTS?

Question

It's like taken directly from a medieval armor...

The role of wind and thermal shield (WTS) deployed over the seismometer is in its name - protecting it from noise and thermal changes. This is fairly clear - and achievable by classic means; a rigid protective shell on the outside, possibly a padding on the inside, the "bellow" skirt to align it with the uneven ground... but I just don't see where the chain mail and scale mail skirts come into the picture. Other than being rather heavy (pulling the kapton skirt to the ground) - which could be achieved by other (admittedly less cool looking) means, I don't see their role. Especially that neither was famed for being particularly good against heat, cold or wind.

How do they help in thermal and wind protection?

What, no chainmail tag? I'll advocate for that if you advocate for a Gilligan's Island tag. — uhoh, Feb 11 '19 at 11:47
Perhaps to protect against pointy bits on the Martian surface? — Chris B. Behrens, Feb 11 '19 at 15:50
Allied with @ChrisB.Behrens comment. It might be a simple way to provide a flexible seal with the ground to minimize gaps between the ground & the protective skirt. — Fred, Feb 11 '19 at 16:23
Chainmail alone would suffice for that. Or even a spongy bottom seal. — SF., Feb 11 '19 at 16:29
Mars is named after the roman god of war, after all. Better come prepared. — Ingolifs, Feb 11 '19 at 22:12
@sf needs to be wind proof and stay flexible at low temperatures. — Steve Linton, Feb 12 '19 at 18:11

score 5 · Accepted Answer · answered Jul 14 '19 at 23:00

"The extendable skirt is bordered around its circumference by a kind of chain-mail, not unlike that worn as armour by medieval knights. Its weight alone allows the skirt to descend. Its platelet structure also confers a second advantage, namely its ability to effectively cover obstacles such as pebbles, enveloping their surfaces and hence sealing off the WTS." -- https://www.seis-insight.eu/en/public-2/seis-instrument/wts

What's the role of the chainmail and scale armor on InSight's WTS?

1 Answers1