Engineering:Silicone impregnated refractory ceramic ablator

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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]

Description

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