Innovative Thermal Protection Systems (TPSs) for Trajectory Shaping Vehicles (TSVs)

Advanced reentry vehicles desire extended time durations in oxidizing environments, at temperatures in the range of 3000°K. State of the art nosetip materials utilize a high density carbon/carbon (C/C) composite that has a carbide center core. This attribute results in maintenance of the aerodynamic shape of the nosetip for the vehicle. Intermat has produced nosetip billets with a variety of `carbide core' configurations. These cores have been made, flush with the surface of a billet, or with the `core' submerged below the surface of the final nose tip. This technology can be applied to placing carbide material within other defined regions of a parent C/C billet such that either internal or external exposure of the carbide loaded region on the final machined nosetip surfaces. This technology could produce a nosetip with a carbide surface barrier over the shoulder and body areas of the nosetip or submerged under a layer of carbon/carbon. A "shielded" nosetip design having the outer surfaces protected by a carbide layer would permit extended flight time at high altitude, preserve shape stability of the nosetip, while providing a C/C nosetip configuration with integrated core for terminal dive.