Inflatable structures can be used in many different applications and, therefore, take many forms. The Atlas missile, itself, was actually inflated by the fuel it carried, without which the missile would have collapsed. Inflated manlocks were designed for SkyLab. The most challenging and exciting form are large precision structures. In low Earth orbit, inflatable structures encounter attack by oxygen atoms.
Some coatings appear promising' to slow down the attack.
Along with the O-atom. attack, at low altitudes, the lightweight inflatable may experience significant aerodynamic drag. Therefore, the large inflatable structures will most likely spend most of their lives at altitudes above 300 not to limit both O-atom attack and drag. When exposed for long times to high energy particles and intense UV radiation, the hydrocarbon films may degrade. Mylar becomes brittle and opaque. Most of the gold super insulation apparent in photos of Un spacecraft is constructed of polyimide film.