Opacified silica reusable surface insulation /RSI/ for thermal protection of the Space Shuttle OrbiterA reusable surface insulation (RSI) material adopted for use on limited areas of the Orbiter's heat shield is described. The RSI is a rigid sintered fibrous silica material containing about 3% by weight of 1200-grit silicon carbide powder. RSI manufacture is described; strength characteristics and thermal conductivity of the final product can be tailored by controlling the isotropy, and the density, coefficient of thermal expansion, and specific heat are reported. Data establishing that opacification of RSI with silicon carbide lowers the thermal conductivity are presented.
Document ID
19790035435
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Other - Collected Works
Authors
Goldstein, H. E. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Smith, M. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, CA, United States)
Stewart, D. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field, Calif., United States)
Leiser, D. B. (NASA Ames Research Center Moffett Field; Stanford University, Stanford, Calif., United States)