Effects of the space environment on electrical insulation ?keynote paper?

Space is both an environment and an insulating medium. Space, viewed as an environment, is characterized by great temperature extremes, bursts of dangerous particulate and electromagnetic radiation, extremely low gas pressures, and swarms of particles and clouds of dust. Space as an insulating medium is characterized by a heat transfer process that is limited solely to radiation, the high dielectric strength associated with an essentially ion free environment, and the Jack of deterioration of materials caused by oxygen, water, and other similar terrestrial causes of corrosion and decomposition.