HYBRID THERMOMECHANICAL PROTECTION SYSTEM FOR SPACE CRAFT AND SPACE PROBES.

摘要

Space craft and space probes traveling at high speeds through a planetary atmosphere are protected against thermal and mechanical damage by the use of various materials, notably advanced ceramics and composites. A novel multi-composite thermal protection system (TPS) is hereby presented which offers protection of space craft and space probes against the high heat flux generated on their surface during very high speed atmospheric entries and also against impact by micrometeorites and other particles. The main innovation behind Hybrid-TPS is the significant synergy it provides between the heat-absorbing phase-change material within it, drawing heat away from the ceramic components whereas the ceramic components of the system shield the phase-change material, control its rate of change and protect it from fracturing, as happens often in ablative systems used currently for space probes. Using a non-charring phase-material, the Hybrid-TPS can be re-used immediately, without lose of effectiveness and can thus be used for sample-return probe missions.