All articles tagged with #heat shield
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.
Researchers at the University of Colorado Boulder have built a plasma tunnel that mimics the extreme heat and pressure of reentry, reaching up to 9,000°F to test materials, heat shields, and sensors under hypersonic conditions; the facility can also reproduce Mars-like CO2 atmospheres, and scientists are exploring magnetic control of the plasma to potentially steer reentry, which could improve future spacecraft safety and maneuverability.
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.
SpaceX's recent Starship test flight highlighted issues with heat shield tiles, particularly the need to improve sealing to prevent heat leakage, with plans to test new sealing methods like 'crunch wrap' on upcoming flights. The company aims to achieve orbital flights next year with upgraded Starship versions, paving the way for lunar and Mars missions, and developing large-scale orbital refueling.
SpaceX's 10th Starship test flight focused on testing fault tolerance by intentionally introducing faults to evaluate heat shield resilience, propulsion redundancy, and engine relight capabilities, emphasizing the company's shift towards resilient, reusable space vehicles for future missions including lunar landings and satellite launches.
The Artemis II astronauts are preparing for their upcoming Moon mission, with final integration of the Orion capsule and SLS rocket underway at Kennedy Space Center. Despite concerns about the heat shield based on Artemis I's reentry issues, NASA plans to use the same shield with a new reentry profile, and the crew is focused on rigorous training and addressing technical challenges. The mission aims to advance lunar science and demonstrate human spaceflight capabilities, with the crew emphasizing teamwork and vigilance.
Varda Space Industries is launching its first in-house built spacecraft, W-4, on a SpaceX rideshare mission, featuring a fully domestically produced heat shield and a new spacecraft bus design to enable high-frequency reentries and microgravity manufacturing experiments, supported by a five-year FAA reentry license for unlimited landings in Australia, as part of its plan to expand space-based pharmaceutical and research operations.
NASA's Artemis I mission encountered issues with the heat shield of its crew capsule, a critical component for spacecraft re-entry. This highlights the importance of heat shield technology in ensuring the safety and success of space missions.
NASA's decision to proceed with the Artemis II mission using an unmodified Orion heat shield has sparked criticism from experts who argue that safety is being compromised. Despite concerns about the heat shield's performance during the Artemis I mission, NASA's independent review team (IRT) concluded that the current design is safe, citing extensive testing and data analysis. However, critics, including former NASA personnel, have expressed dissatisfaction with the agency's transparency and decision-making process.
NASA has confirmed that the Orion spacecraft's heat shield is ready for the Artemis II mission, despite issues encountered during Artemis I. The heat shield experienced cracking due to gas buildup during a skip reentry maneuver, but NASA plans to adjust the reentry trajectory for Artemis II to mitigate this. The agency is confident that these changes will prevent similar erosion, and future spacecraft will incorporate design improvements to address the heat shield's permeability issues.
NASA has delayed the Artemis II mission, its first crewed moon mission, to no earlier than April 2026 due to issues with the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. The delay follows an investigation into the heat shield's performance during a 2022 uncrewed test, where parts unexpectedly broke off. The mission will involve three U.S. astronauts and one Canadian astronaut orbiting the moon to test the Orion capsule's systems. NASA has identified the root cause and plans to adjust the spacecraft's re-entry trajectory to ensure safety.
SpaceX plans to launch its Starship rocket for the fourth time on June 5, aiming to test the second stage's reusable heat shield during reentry. CEO Elon Musk highlighted the challenge of creating a resilient heat shield system, which is crucial for achieving full reusability. The mission will also involve a controlled reentry and splashdown in the Indian Ocean. Previous tests have provided valuable data despite ending in explosions, and SpaceX continues to work closely with the FAA to secure necessary launch licenses.
NASA is investigating issues with the heat shield of the Orion crew module following the Artemis 1 mission, which revealed unexpected wear and char loss. The delay of the crewed Artemis 2 mission to September 2025 was partly due to analyzing reentry heat shield data. Engineers are working to understand the root cause of these issues and have conducted extensive testing to address potential changes in the Avcoat material used for the heat shield.
NASA's Artemis 2 mission, which is scheduled for launch in November 2024 and will carry a crew, may be delayed due to a lingering issue with the Orion spacecraft's heat shield. NASA is still studying the performance of the heat shield and is open to making changes or replacing components to resolve the problem. The space agency expects to have a resolution on the heat shield erosion by late spring next year. The crew has made it clear that they will not launch until they are confident the vehicle is ready.
NASA has successfully tested an inflatable heat shield as part of its Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) program. The tests have proven exceptionally successful, demonstrating that the inflatable heat shield can slow down a test vehicle and withstand the heat exerted by the atmosphere. This technology could improve the return of the Orion spacecraft to Earth and enable future missions to other planets, as larger spacecraft would not need heavier materials for landings or re-entry. NASA believes that an even larger inflatable heat shield could be used on Vulcan engines for recovery and re-use in low Earth orbit.