Discovering an Effective Way to Protect Thermodynamics on Spacecraft

Overview

Traveling up to 28,000 miles per hour, spacecraft re-entry into the atmosphere can be one of the most dangerous parts of the trip. As the kinetic force of the spacecraft is encountered by friction pushing against it, heat is produced at about 3000 degrees Fahrenheit. In an effort to combat the extreme temperatures, two different types of shields have been created by National Aeronautics Space Administration (NASA). An ablative heat shield and a thermal soak heat shield both contain their own flaws, therefore testing is being done to try to improve the protective shields from heat. The hypothesis tested in this project stated that the heat shield with a reflective outside cover, such as aluminum, with a stronger material in between, like cork, will result in the best outcome (Shield 1). First, all shield materials were cut into 6x4.5” rectangles before undergoing an individual burn test at 3730 degrees Fahrenheit. The five materials that endured heat for the longest duration included aluminum foil, cork, silicon, aluminum wire, and electrical tape. These materials were used to create three different shields that went through a second burn test comparing temperature to time. The data was then transferred to google sheets for analysis. Analysis of the data revealed that the hypothesis was accepted: Shield 1 maintained the lowest temperature below 82 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the entire test. Shield 3 was the second most effective since it had the longest burn time. However, the temperature increased to 136 degrees Fahrenheit resulting in an unsuccessful trial since it was not able to reflect or absorb the heat. Shield 2 burned in the quickest time and had the fastest temperature increase, resulting in it being the least effective. Using this data, scientists can better understand the type of materials that are most effective in enduring heat, which will not only help spacecraft, but other objects which involve the reflecting of heat in our everyday lives.

Competition history

• AJAS 2020 Category not listed

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