heat shield articles

What is the thermal protection system for reentry vehicles?

Reentry into Earth's atmosphere subjects any returning spacecraft—whether a crew capsule or an uncrewed probe—to an envi...

What material is the spacecraft heat shield made of?

The fiery descent through a planet's atmosphere is arguably the most violent phase of any space mission, demanding mater...

What protective layer surrounds a rocket during reentry?

The fiery descent of a spacecraft back to Earth is one of the most dramatic and technically challenging phases of any sp...

How do rockets survive reentry?

The return trip from space presents one of the most severe engineering hurdles in rocketry and aerospace, transforming w...

What is the heat of the core of a star?

The heart of a star is an environment defined by extremes, a place where matter is compressed to incredible densities an...

How do protostars generate heat?

The fiery heart of a newborn star doesn't begin with the spectacular ignition of nuclear fusion. Before a true star swit...