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Astronomy & Space vocabulary · Rockets & Spacecraft

Heat shield

Meaning in astronomy & space, with examples

nounCommon term

In astronomy & space, heat shield means: A protective layer on a spacecraft that takes the extreme heat of entering an atmosphere, so that the crew or instruments inside stay safe.

In Turkish: ısı kalkanı

How it is used

Engineers describe ablative heat shields, which slowly burn away and carry heat with them, and reusable tiles. After a mission they inspect the heat shield for erosion and cracks. Probes entering other planets' atmospheres need one too.

Example sentences

  1. The heat shield protected the capsule as it plunged into the atmosphere at about 28,000 km/h.

  2. The rover's heat shield was released a few minutes before landing on Mars.

Common collocations

  • ablative heat shield
  • heat shield tiles
  • heat shield separation
  • inspect the heat shield
  • re-entryThe return of a spacecraft from space into Earth's atmosphere, when the air squeezed in front of it heats its outer surface to very high temperatures.
  • crew capsuleThe small spacecraft that carries astronauts to and from space. It sits on top of a rocket for launch and returns to Earth under parachutes.
  • landerA spacecraft designed to land on the surface of a planet, moon, asteroid or comet and usually stay in one place to make measurements.
  • spacecraftAny vehicle designed to travel or operate in space, with or without a crew, such as a satellite, a probe or a crew capsule.

More terms: Rockets & Spacecraft

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