All articles tagged with #avcoat
NASA's Artemis II crewed lunar flyby is moving forward, but Orion's heat shield—composed of Avcoat and reinforced with a 3D Multifunctional Ablative Thermal Protection System—is under scrutiny after Artemis I showed shielding damage on reentry. NASA says there is no significant safety threat and has adjusted the reentry plan to reduce risk, while hydrogen-leak delays push the launch window to March at the earliest.
With Artemis 2 looming, experts question whether NASA’s heat-shield fixes will keep astronauts safe during reentry, citing Artemis 1’s heat-shield cracking from gas buildup. NASA adjusted Artemis 2’s reentry profile and heat-shield design to reduce risk, and officials emphasize redundancies, but some veterans argue deeper fixes were needed. Artemis 2 will be crewed but not land on the Moon, setting the stage for Artemis 3’s lunar landing.
Artemis II plans to launch a four-astronaut crew to the Moon aboard NASA’s Orion capsule, despite ongoing concerns about the heat shield made with Avcoat after Artemis I’s damage. NASA says it has mitigated the risk with a modified reentry path and updated risk analysis, and the heat shield will not be replaced for Artemis II. But several experts warn the risk remains nontrivial, highlighting uncertainties in the modeling and the possibility of cracks or material loss during reentry, making this a controversial decision about crew safety.