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High accuracy measurements of the earth’s gravitational field by satellites are affected by noise due to micro-vibrations caused by the environment and internal sources. In order to derive the best possible gravity field model the effects of non-gravitational accelerations have to be avoided and, where this is not possible, compensated or minimized. Among many other sources of those undesired disturbances are also classical thermal hardware items. This paper describes the development test programme established within the GOCE project to characterize the performance of MLI blankets, which were identified as potential micro-disturbance sources. The outcome of these tests is briefly discussed and the resulting selection of the flight thermal hardware is presented.