Silicone impregnated refractory ceramic ablator
Silicone Impregnated Refractory Ceramic Ablator, or SIRCA, is a lightweight ceramic ablative material, often used in thermal protection systems to protect parts of launch vehicles and spacecraft from very high temperature heat sources.[1]
SIRCA was used for ceramic substrates on both the Viking spacecraft and the Space Shuttle,[2] and was also used on the aeroshells for Mars Pathfinder and the Mars Exploration Rovers.[1] It was developed at NASA Ames Research Center in the 1980s and 1990s.[2]
Types[edit]
According to NASA's TPSX database, there are three types of SIRCA in use: SIRCA-25L,[3] SIRCA-15F[4] and SIRCA-14A,[5] each based on a different ceramic insulation substrate. Each type of SIRCA has a different acceptable heating rate, maximum heating load and mechanical strength.
Description[edit]
SIRCA typically has a density between 0.20–0.40 grams per cubic centimetre (12–25 lb/cu ft) and can handle a heat flux of up to 300 watts per square centimetre (2.6 hp/sq in)[2] and is easily machined to custom shapes.[1]
References[edit]
- ^ a b c Sepka, Steven A.; Samareh, Jamshid A. (26 June 2015). Thermal Protection System Mass Estimating Relationships for Blunt-Body, Earth Entry Spacecraft (PDF). 45th AIAA Thermophysics Conference, Dallas Texas.
- ^ a b c Rasky, Daniel J. (2012-02-28). "A Perspective on the Design and Development of the SpaceX Dragon Spacecraft Heatshield". NASA. Retrieved 2018-03-19.
- ^ Milos, Frank S. "TPSX Material properties database, SIRCA-15F [VIRGIN]".
- ^ Milos, Frank S. "TPSX Material properties database, SIRCA-15F [VIRGIN]".
- ^ Milos, Frank S. "TPSX Material properties database, SIRCA-14A [VIRGIN]".
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