3D Printing Heat Shields, Year 2
Project Description
This project intends to demonstrate the feasibility of 3D printing a heat shield using materials that perform well as TPS. Key features of a 3D printed heat shield include a monolithic heat shield without seams or gaps and a graded material with a robust layer near the surface and an insulative material at the structure. Once feasibility is demonstrated the candidate materials and 3D printing processes would be further developed and characterized for use on future NASA and commercial spaceflight vehicles. Follow-on projects, such as a STMD project, would conduct additional material development testing, develop techniques for applying the materials to structure and demonstrate the manufacture of a small capsule heat shield.
More »Anticipated Benefits
The goal of this project is to automate the processes for making and installing ablative TPS on large entry vehicles in order to significantly reduce the cost of TPS for future flight vehicles. The approach will be to develop new TPS materials that are compatible with 3D printing techniques which opens the door to automating TPS production and installation.
More »Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Houston, Texas |
Ames Research Center
(ARC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Moffett Field, California |
| Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) | Supporting Organization | FFRDC/UARC | Oak Ridge, Tennessee |
| Texas A & M University-College Station (Texas A&M) | Supporting Organization | Academia | College Station, Texas |
| Texas State University | Supporting Organization |
Academia
Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSI)
|
San Marcos, Texas |
| The University of Texas at Austin | Supporting Organization | Academia | Austin, Texas |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Alabama
-
Florida
-
Texas
