Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC's)
by Don Ellerby
In the continuing pursuit to improve the performance of future reentry vehicles, scientists and engineers at NASA Ames Research Center have been developing Ultra High Temperature Ceramics (UHTC's) for their higher temperature capability, which is required for vehicles with sharp leading edges. Sharper leading edges will reduce the vehicle's drag, enhancing the vehicle's maneuverability and performance, and also improve safety due to an increased cross range and larger abort window. Analysis has shown that materials with temperature capability approaching 2000°C and above will be required for these vehicles, but the state of the art Reinforced Carbon-Carbon (RCC) material currently used on the space shuttle's nose cone and wing leading edges has a maximum use temperatures of approximately 1650°C.
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Ceramic Foams for Novel TPS Applications
by Mairead Stackpoole, ELORET
Work is currently being performed at NASA Ames Research Center on development of a new durable foam TPS with a density and temperature capability comparable to that of the current carbon systems. This foam may also be used as an on-orbit repair material.
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Development of New Ablative Thermal Protection Systems (TPS)
by Bernard Laub
There has been little ablative TPS development work in the USA over the past 20+ years. NASA has already done the "easy" missions with materials (for the most part) developed over 30 years ago. However, NASA's ambitious exploration vision requires TPS innovations.
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