NASA tested new thermal shields by sending experimental capsules with a cargo of waste to burn up in Earth's atmosphere, aiming to protect future astronauts returning from the Moon or Mars.
NASA tests thermal shields in space
NASA placed twelve experimental capsules inside a cargo loaded with waste, testing new thermal shields intended for astronauts returning from the Moon or Mars. The capsules, named KREPE-3, are part of a mission to evaluate materials that could one day protect spacecraft during reentry.Mission involves multiple partners
The project involves the University of Kentucky, the state of Kentucky, the NASA EPSCoR program, several NASA centers, and public and private partners. Its principle is based on an idea: using a planned reentry rather than funding a dedicated launch. It is the third mission in this low-cost series.Capsules collect real-time data
Before departure, astronauts loaded the cargo with waste and activated the capsules. Designed by students from the University of Kentucky, they measure temperature, pressure, movement, magnetic field, and light. When the Cygnus XL disintegrates, they must eject and record the performance of each material.Data transmission during reentry
The measurements are transmitted in real time to researchers via satellite link. "It is a clever way to obtain flight data on materials still in development," explains Keith Peterson, materials engineer at the Ames Research Center of NASA in California. "We are somehow taking advantage of a vehicle that is already returning to Earth."
