Private company Space Forge will develop a collapsible origami-like spacecraft heat shield. In this respect informs European Space Agency.
When a spacecraft descends from orbit, it enters the atmosphere and is heated by friction with the air due to its enormous speed. Since the temperature during descent can significantly exceed a thousand degrees, the returning spacecraft is protected by special shields made of a material that does not allow heat to penetrate. Many work with ablation: when part of the material is burned, a boundary layer with heat-shielding properties is formed.
It is speculated that Prydwen’s collapsible heat shield, named after the legendary King Arthur’s ship, would work differently. When descending, the fabric curtain made of a heat-resistant alloy will open and be cooled by radiation due to the large area. Also, the same screen will act as an air brake so that the satellite will not need a parachute and can be captured using a stretched net.
Flight tests of the display will take place on the ForgeStar-1A spacecraft in late 2023.
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