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Thermal Protection Systems for Future NASA Space VehiclesThe proposed first through fourth generation of future NASA Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV) within NASA will be described, in general, along with their relative goals for improvement in performance (i.e., cost, safety, life, and turnaround time). A brief description of Spaceliner 100 activities representing a means to achieve those goals will be included. Some of the families of thermal protection materials with widely varying characteristics that are being developed for first generation space vehicles at Ames Research Center will be described as well as potential materials and composites for second and third generation applications as systems. These families of materials include functionally gradient material composites that are made from a variety of low-density substrates and moderate to fully dense surface treatments providing the resultant material with both toughness and higher temperature capability opening the envelope of Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) capabilities. Some of the materials truly represent enabling technologies that are required to achieve substantially enhanced thermal protection system performance thereby reducing vehicle risk. Finally the needs for integrated vehicle health monitoring (IVHM) of future vehicles thermal protection systems relative to achieving the goals for third generation reusable launch vehicles and for improving vehicle performance and capabilities reducing risk will be described along with the state of the art in TPS.
Document ID
20000121229
Acquisition Source
Ames Research Center
Document Type
Preprint (Draft being sent to journal)
Authors
Leiser, Daniel B.
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Rasky, Daniel
(NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA United States)
Arnold, James O.
Date Acquired
August 19, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 2000
Subject Category
Spacecraft Design, Testing And Performance
Meeting Information
Meeting: Aeromat 2000
Location: Bellevue, WA
Country: United States
Start Date: June 26, 2000
End Date: June 29, 2000
Funding Number(s)
PROJECT: RTOP 242-90
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

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