NDE of Ablative Heat Shield Materials and Structures for NASA Missions

Ablative thermal protection system (TPS) material is a critical component to NASA for Human Rating Requirements (HRR) for Follow-On Vehicles and for planetary missions. Ablative materials ensure the safety of the spacecraft and its contents – whether it is human or scientific instrumentation. These materials burn away (or ablate) at high temperatures, to carry off much of the extreme heat. The ablator’s surface pyrolyzes when heated, leaving a heatresistant layer of charred material. The remaining thickness of virgin material has a low thermal conductivity to block heat transfer to the space craft, protecting its cargo. The two primary ablative materials that have been selected by NASA are: PICA (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) and Avcoat. Both materials proved successful in previous missions to space. Both materials present challenges in manufacturing that produce defects which could effect mission success. NDE methods are proposed to identify those defects. Product(s) • Determination of minimum critical manufacturing flaw (defect) that will reduce the integrity of the Heat Shield attachment to spacecraft, i.e., reduce strength below acceptable. • Method to measure minimum critical flaw size. • Method to determine heat shield material tiles are shaped into proper shape prior to adhesion to spacecraft. • Method to detect low density areas of ablative materials as well as depth location of defect into the material.

Improved TPS quality control during manufacturing, and NDE evaluation techniques.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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