Abstract: The knowledge of the heat transfer characteristics of multilayer insulation materials is essential for the design related with the thermal control and the heat reservation (insulation). This paper discusses fil St the classification and the application fields of multilayer insulation materials, then their heat transfer mechanism and the characterization methods. After that, the research advances in the thermal characteristics and the space environmental applications of multilayer insulation materials are reviewed, including the methods, the thermal models and typical results. Suggestions of future research areas of the heat transfer characteristics ofmultilayer insulation materials are made.