Heat shield boost to space sector

2010-03-05
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A Lockheed Martin-led team has completed the fabrication of the world's largest heat shield structure that will be significant in the protection of space vehicles from the extreme temperatures they face during re-entry.

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A Lockheed Martin-led team has completed the fabrication of the world's largest heat shield structure that will be significant in the protection of space vehicles from the extreme temperatures they face during re-entry.

The team, which is in the final stages of developing the Orion crew exploration vehicle, has made several new technological advances and innovations, such as a cutting edge high-temperature composite material system, during the spacecraft creation process.

A simpler and more efficient manufacturing technique can be assured with the new resin system due to its higher temperature resistance.

The system can be used in several commercial applications such as automobiles, aircraft, payload fairings and launch and re-entry vehicles.

The shield, with a diameter of five metres (16.4ft), was created at the Lockheed Martin composite development facility in Denver, Colorado, along with support from TenCate Advanced Composites.

TenCate is a leading supplier of aerospace thermoset and thermoplastic prepregs. The firm's materials are used in oil and gas, genera aviation, satellites, commercial aeroplanes, radomes, medical and high-end industrial applications.

Cleon Lacefield, Lockheed Martin vice president and Orion programme manager said: "We also achieved a $10 million cost savings and improved the project schedule by 12 months through the innovative tooling, materials and fabrication processes the team put into action."

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