heat shield
Spacecraft thermal barrier
A heat shield is a protective barrier designed to absorb or deflect extreme heat, preventing damage to whatever lies behind it.
Spacecraft use heat shields to survive the intense temperatures generated during atmospheric reentry, when friction with air molecules can produce thousands of degrees of heat.
The term also applies to protective panels on vehicles, industrial equipment, or buildings that guard against heat sources like engines or furnaces.
Removal by cutting, melting
- tilesFlat covering pieces
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- ceramicFired clay material
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
phenolic · refractory · ablative · composite · aerogel · tungsten · zirconium · aluminized
Guarding against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- fireproofUnable to ignite
- flame-resistantSlow to ignite
- guardWatchful defensive attention
deflect · absorb · resist · safeguard · armor · enclosure · furnace · foundry
Gaseous layer around planets
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- descentDownward slope or lineage
- capsuleEnclosed dose container
trajectory · velocity · aerobraking · ionization · blackout · glow · scorching · char
Network access control system
- exhaustUse up entirely
- manifoldMany and various
- turboExhaust-powered compressor
- headersTop-of-page identifiers
underbody · engine bay · wrap · blanket · sleeve · reflective · floor pan · catalytic converter
Outside a spacecraft
- spacewalkVenturing outside a spacecraft
- orbitalRevolving around another
- Space ShuttleReusable orbital spacecraft
- MercuryMessenger god or planet
Gemini · Mars lander · interplanetary · probe · lunar · command module · service module
ablation
Removal by cutting, melting
- tilesFlat covering pieces
- insulationThermal transfer prevention
- ceramicFired clay material
silica · phenolic · refractory · ablative · composite · aerogel · tungsten · zirconium · aluminized · mylar
protection
Guarding against harm
- barrierObstruction preventing passage
- fireproofUnable to ignite
- flame-resistantSlow to ignite
guard · deflect · absorb · resist · safeguard · armor · enclosure · furnace · foundry · welding
atmosphere
Gaseous layer around planets
- plasmaElectrified matter state
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- descentDownward slope or lineage
capsule · trajectory · velocity · aerobraking · ionization · blackout · glow · scorching · char · flameout
firewall
Network access control system
headers · underbody · engine bay · wrap · blanket · sleeve · reflective · floor pan · catalytic converter · muffler
extravehicular
Outside a spacecraft
- spacewalkVenturing outside a spacecraft
- orbitalRevolving around another
- Space ShuttleReusable orbital spacecraft
Mercury · Gemini · Mars lander · interplanetary · probe · lunar · command module · service module
- spaceflightlaunch, astronaut, spacecraft, liftoff, orbit
- spacecraft partsengine, thrusters, antenna array, thruster, fuel tank
- Hypersonicshypersonic flight, scramjet, Mach 5, hypersonic missile, shock wave
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- space explorationrockets, Saturn V, satellites, mission, Falcon Heavy
- space techrockets, satellites, space station, rover, SpaceX