Mission: Build a Heat Shield | Summary and Q&A

TL;DR

Engineers simulate NASA's Orion heat shield for a candy bar astronaut to protect from extreme temperatures.

Key Insights

• 👨‍🚀 The Orion spacecraft will rely on a heat shield for safe reentry from space, protecting astronauts from extreme temperatures.
• 🥵 Engineers test various materials to design an effective heat shield, incorporating factors like durability and heat resistance.
• 🥵 Designing heat shields involves creativity and problem-solving, as teams collaborate to create a protective barrier for space missions.
• 🥵 Testing procedures are critical for evaluating the performance of heat shields, with engineers making data-driven decisions to enhance design effectiveness.
• 👨‍🚀 Heat shield simulations using a candy bar astronaut provide a hands-on learning experience for aspiring space scientists and engineers.
• 👁️‍🗨️ Innovative designs, such as using steel wool or bubble wrap, can offer better protection against high temperatures during reentry.
• 🥵 Analyzing test results helps engineers identify strengths and weaknesses in heat shield designs, guiding improvements for future space missions.

Transcript

Welcome space scientists and engineers. Beginning Mission: Build a Heat Shield. Mission prep time: 15 minutes. Mission duration: 60 minutes. Good luck. Mission briefing will commence in three, two, one. NASA's Orion spacecraft is built to take humans farther than they've ever gone before, including back to the moon with NASA's ARTEMUS missions. Ori... Read More

Questions & Answers

Q: Which design characteristics provided the most protection to the crew on board?

The heat shields that used materials like steel wool, bubble wrap, and foam showed the most promising results in providing protection against extreme temperatures.

Q: What information could engineers working on this project learn from your team's results?

Engineers could learn about the effectiveness of different materials in withstanding high temperatures and use this data to improve the design of heat shields for space missions.

Q: What other tests or calculations would you do before making recommendations to NASA for their heat shields?

Additional tests could involve analyzing the durability of materials under prolonged heat exposure or conducting simulations to predict how the heat shields would perform in various scenarios.

Q: Can you stay within your budget when assigning a price to each building material for the heat shield?

Engineers may need to balance cost-effectiveness with performance when selecting materials, ensuring that the heat shield remains within budget constraints while meeting safety requirements for space travel.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• NASA's Orion spacecraft will take humans to the moon and back, requiring a heat shield for reentry.

• Engineers test different materials to design an effective heat shield.

• Teams create and test heat shields for a candy bar astronaut to simulate real-life space conditions.