NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Collections About News Help Login
Back to Results
Hypothetical Reentry Thermostructural Performance of Space Shuttle Orbiter With Missing or Eroded Thermal Protection TilesThis report deals with hypothetical reentry thermostructural performance of the Space Shuttle orbiter with missing or eroded thermal protection system (TPS) tiles. The original STS-5 heating (normal transition at 1100 sec) and the modified STS-5 heating (premature transition at 800 sec) were used as reentry heat inputs. The TPS missing or eroded site is assumed to be located at the center or corner (spar-rib juncture) of the lower surface of wing midspan bay 3. For cases of missing TPS tiles, under the original STS-5 heating, the orbiter can afford to lose only one TPS tile at the center or two TPS tiles at the corner (spar-rib juncture) of the lower surface of wing midspan bay 3. Under modified STS-5 heating, the orbiter cannot afford to lose even one TPS tile at the center or at the corner of the lower surface of wing midspan bay 3. For cases of eroded TPS tiles, the aluminum skin temperature rises relatively slowly with the decreasing thickness of the eroded central or corner TPS tile until most of the TPS tile is eroded away, and then increases exponentially toward the missing tile case.
Document ID
20040082249
Acquisition Source
Armstrong Flight Research Center
Document Type
Technical Memorandum (TM)
Authors
Ko, William L. (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Edwards, CA, United States)
Gong, Leslie (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Edwards, CA, United States)
Quinn, Robert D. (NASA Dryden Flight Research Center Edwards, CA, United States)
Date Acquired
September 7, 2013
Publication Date
July 1, 2004
Subject Category
Fluid Mechanics And Thermodynamics
Report/Patent Number
H-2553
NASA/TM-2004-212850
Funding Number(s)
WORK_UNIT: WU 090-50-00-SE-RR
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Work of the US Gov. Public Use Permitted.

Related Records

There are no records associated with this record.
No Preview Available