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AVCOAT
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AVCOAT
AVCOAT 5026-39 is a NASA code for several versions of a specific ablative heat shield material originally created by Avco for the Apollo program. It is composed of silica fibers in an epoxy novolac resin. The original AVCOAT was used for the Apollo Command Module heat shield. A reformulated version was used for the initial Orion heat shield and later for a redesigned Orion heat shield.
AVCOAT was used for the heat shield on NASA's Apollo command module. In its final Apollo form, this material was called AVCOAT 5026–39.
Although AVCOAT was not used for the Space Shuttle orbiters, NASA again used the material for its Orion spacecraft first for the initial Orion test and then for a different type of heat shield for the later Orions. The Avcoat used on the two types of Orion shield was reformulated to meet environmental legislation that was enacted after the end of Apollo.
AVCOAT was first used on the parts of the Apollo spacecraft orbiter and as a unit attached to the crew module. The heat shield is a honeycomb structure filled with the AVCOAT. NASA confirmed that this is made of silica fibers with an epoxy novolac resin filled in a fiberglass-phenolic manufactured directly onto the heat shield. The paste-like material was gunned into each of the 330,000 cells of the fiberglass honeycomb individually, a process taking about six months.
NASA's Apollo Flight Test Analysis, AVCOAT 5026-39/HC-G material was tested on the nose cone of a Pacemaker sounding rocket. The temperature and ablation measurements were made at four locations on the nose cap. The report noted that the wear of the shield is due to the aerodynamic shear and heating rate. The report also noted that scientists believed that the ablation was done in a controlled manner.
To protect the Crew Module during Earth re-entry, the dish shaped AVCOAT heat shield ablator system was selected. NASA announced that this module would encounter temperature as high as 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2760 °C). Licensed by Textron, AVCOAT material is produced at New Orleans's Michoud Assembly Facility by Lockheed Martin. This ablative heat shield was installed at the base of the crew module to provide a controlled erosion moving heat away from the crew module into the atmosphere.
John Kowal, Orion's thermal protections systems manager at Johnson Space Center, discussed the biggest challenge with AVCOAT has been reviving the technology for manufacturing with similar performance as demonstrated in the Apollo Missions. After the Apollo missions, Avcoat variants were produced and studied. Orion Chief Engineer requested the heat shield to be redesigned, however the final design was not selected.
The Orion Crew Module was first designed for the NASA's Constellation program. The heat shield was designed and manufactured similarly to the Apollo version as a monolithic fiberglass honeycomb which was then filled with the AVCOAT. The honey comb consisted of 330,000 small cells. Each cell was individually filled with AVCOAT one at a time by a technician with a pressure gun, with the process taking more than six months for the shield.
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AVCOAT
AVCOAT 5026-39 is a NASA code for several versions of a specific ablative heat shield material originally created by Avco for the Apollo program. It is composed of silica fibers in an epoxy novolac resin. The original AVCOAT was used for the Apollo Command Module heat shield. A reformulated version was used for the initial Orion heat shield and later for a redesigned Orion heat shield.
AVCOAT was used for the heat shield on NASA's Apollo command module. In its final Apollo form, this material was called AVCOAT 5026–39.
Although AVCOAT was not used for the Space Shuttle orbiters, NASA again used the material for its Orion spacecraft first for the initial Orion test and then for a different type of heat shield for the later Orions. The Avcoat used on the two types of Orion shield was reformulated to meet environmental legislation that was enacted after the end of Apollo.
AVCOAT was first used on the parts of the Apollo spacecraft orbiter and as a unit attached to the crew module. The heat shield is a honeycomb structure filled with the AVCOAT. NASA confirmed that this is made of silica fibers with an epoxy novolac resin filled in a fiberglass-phenolic manufactured directly onto the heat shield. The paste-like material was gunned into each of the 330,000 cells of the fiberglass honeycomb individually, a process taking about six months.
NASA's Apollo Flight Test Analysis, AVCOAT 5026-39/HC-G material was tested on the nose cone of a Pacemaker sounding rocket. The temperature and ablation measurements were made at four locations on the nose cap. The report noted that the wear of the shield is due to the aerodynamic shear and heating rate. The report also noted that scientists believed that the ablation was done in a controlled manner.
To protect the Crew Module during Earth re-entry, the dish shaped AVCOAT heat shield ablator system was selected. NASA announced that this module would encounter temperature as high as 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit (2760 °C). Licensed by Textron, AVCOAT material is produced at New Orleans's Michoud Assembly Facility by Lockheed Martin. This ablative heat shield was installed at the base of the crew module to provide a controlled erosion moving heat away from the crew module into the atmosphere.
John Kowal, Orion's thermal protections systems manager at Johnson Space Center, discussed the biggest challenge with AVCOAT has been reviving the technology for manufacturing with similar performance as demonstrated in the Apollo Missions. After the Apollo missions, Avcoat variants were produced and studied. Orion Chief Engineer requested the heat shield to be redesigned, however the final design was not selected.
The Orion Crew Module was first designed for the NASA's Constellation program. The heat shield was designed and manufactured similarly to the Apollo version as a monolithic fiberglass honeycomb which was then filled with the AVCOAT. The honey comb consisted of 330,000 small cells. Each cell was individually filled with AVCOAT one at a time by a technician with a pressure gun, with the process taking more than six months for the shield.
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