Tag: Heat Shield

Starship heat shield tech is not viable for rapid reuse, say experts

According to ARS TECHNICA, SpaceX successfully launched its Starship vehicle on Friday and appeared to demonstrate important and credible steps toward fulfilling the massive rocket’s immense promise. As soon as the vehicle’s next flight, Starship could go orbital, begin delivering satellites into space, and potentially return to the launch site to be ‘caught’ by the tower. One key issue—probably the key issue when it comes to Starship’s future—remains unresolved.

Inflatable Heat Shield Could Help Humans Land on Mars

Aerospace America reports that at the AIAA’s ASCEND event in Las Vegas, NASA announced that its Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator is ready to go into space on November 1. “Plans call for launching LOFTID into orbit as a rideshare payload on a United Launch Alliance Atlas V together with a NOAA weather satellite.” This technology could eventually aid large equipment to land on Mars, especially for future crewed missions.
Full Story (Aerospace America)

Artemis I’s Orion Capsule to Test Heat Shield

Aviation Week reports that at the close of the upcoming “Artemis I test flight, an uncrewed Orion capsule will re-enter the Earth’s atmosphere faster and hotter than any previous human spacecraft, validating the heat shield’s ability to protect astronauts returning from the Moon and eventually Mars.”
Full Story (Aviation Week)