Ballistic Performance of Porous-Ceramic, Thermal Protection Systems to 9 km/sPorous-ceramic, thermal protection systems are used heavily in current reentry vehicles like the Orbiter, and they are currently being proposed for the next generation of US manned spacecraft, Orion. These materials insulate the structural components and sensitive components of a spacecraft against the intense thermal environments of atmospheric reentry. These materials are also highly exposed to solid particle space environment hazards. This paper discusses recent impact testing up to 9.65 km/s on ceramic tiles similar to those used on the Orbiter. These tiles are a porous-ceramic insulator of nominally 8 lb/ft(exp 3) alumina-fiber-enhanced-thermal-barrier (AETB8) coated with a damage-resistant, toughened-unipiece-fibrous-insulation/reaction-cured-glass layer (TUFI/RCG).
Document ID
20110010190
Acquisition Source
Johnson Space Center
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Miller, Joshua E. (Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Denver, CO, United States)
Bohl, William E. (Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. Denver, CO, United States)
Foreman, Cory D. (Lockheed Martin Exploration and Science Houston, TX, United States)
Christiansen, Eric C. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)
Davis, Bruce A. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, TX, United States)