NASA’s Orion crew capsule experienced heat shield issues during the Artemis 1 mission, delaying the next two missions. As an aerospace expert, I analyzed the incident to highlight the importance of a functional heat shield for space exploration.
During reentry, the capsule skimmed its higher layers, absorbing some of the approaching spacecraft’s kinetic energy. However, this maneuver caused temperatures on the bottom surface of the capsule to reach 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit, breaking down the heat shield material. The resin melted and receded, exposing fiberglass threads that reacted with hot air, producing char.
NASA used a similar design for Orion as the Apollo capsule but experienced issues that weren’t seen during the Apollo missions. Analysis revealed that the Orion team overestimated the heat flow, leading to cracks in the surface where the char structure got damaged. The recovery crew observed these cracks after splashdown.
To prevent similar issues, NASA is modifying the reentry trajectory for Artemis II and using new manufacturing methods for the shield in future missions. These changes will help keep astronauts safe during reentry and splashdown.
Source: https://www.yahoo.com/news/nasas-orion-crew-capsule-had-170000491.html