Charateristic of Space Shuttle Shield Tile

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myxinmin@yahoo.com - 01 May 2006 08:57 GMT

Dear Folks,

I am wondering what are characteristic of heat shield tiles of the
shuttle would be. First it needs to have a high heat insulation as well
as high heat dissipation. I guess it must be quite porous and fully
crystalline.

Am I having any misunderstanding? Please correct me.

Thanks
SC

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Eric - 11 May 2006 19:49 GMT

> Dear Folks,
>
[quoted text clipped - 7 lines]
> Thanks
> SC

You pretty much nailed it. There are "porous" (light weight, mostly air)
and made of a silica ceramic.
They are also brittle, hence the concern last summer with the astronauts
working around the belly of the Orbiter.

I have a piece of the tile material around here, somewhere, that I bought in
Florida about 10 years ago. The "gift shop" tiles can still be found for
$20 or less.

Just google "shuttle" and "thermal protection system". There are dozens
upon dozens of websites on the subject...

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Space Forum / Shuttle / May 2006

Charateristic of Space Shuttle Shield Tile