Thermal Protection Systems
Overview Seven different
materials, chosen for their weight efficiency and stability at
high temperatures, are used.
Reinforced
Carbon-Carbon
RCC protects areas where temperatures exceed 2,300 degrees F during
entry.
High-Temperature
Reusable Surface Insulation Tiles
Black tiles are applied on areas where temperatures do not exceed
2,300 degrees F.
Fibrous
Refractory Composite Insulation Tiles
Black tiles developed later in the program replace some HRCI tiles.
Low-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation Tiles White tiles are
used in areas where temperatures do not exceed 1,200 degrees F.
Low-Temperature Reusable Surface Insulation Tiles
The LRSI tiles are of the same construction and have the same basic
functions as the 99.8-percent-pure silica HRSI tiles, but they are
thinner than HRSI tiles.
Advanced
Flexible Reusable Surface Insulation Blankets Quilted composite fabric replaced most of the LRSI tiles.
Felt
Reusable Surface Insulation Nomex felt blankets are used on the payload bay doors and
other areas where temperatures do not exceed 700 degrees F.
Thermal
Barriers
Various materials are used to fill in gaps.
Tile
Identification Each tile has a unique ID code.
Flags
and Letters
Flags and letters are painted on.
Rewaterproofing After each flight the orbiter is rewaterproofed.
Contractors
List of contractors for the thermal protection system.
|