Innovative Thermal Protection System for re-entry application

The ASA innovative layout is designed to withstand structural and thermal loads, optimizing weights and thicknesses with respect to the state of the art. The key factor of this new advanced composite structure is its reusability. A specific set of characterization and functional test has been performed to assess the technologies readiness level and qualify the component for a re-entry nominal mission. In this paper the structure is presented showing its capacity to withstand with I-XV requirements. The patented structure is a sandwich structure composed by four tiles. One of the innovations of this TPS is the opportunity to be installed/ uninstalled externally without the necessity to have an access from the inner part of the vehicle. The use of advanced carbon/carbon materials let the structure to be not only lightweight but also to be reusable and to keep its mechanical properties during the overall mission. Another key factor for the ASA B2 Hybrid Panel reusability is its oxidation resistance. The application of a good in quality coating has been tested and studied in order to guarantee the material chemical stability. Copyright © (2012) by the International Astronautical Federation.