Patent — available for licensing
Thermal protection supplement for reducing interface thermal mismatch
A NASA invention available to explore as a licensing opportunity.
About this technology
Overview
NASA has a new innovation that represents an exciting leap forward in reusable thermal protection systems (TPS) technology. The Toughened Uni-Piece Fibrous Reinforced Oxidation-Resistant Composite (TUFROC) allows for much more affordable and sustainable operations involving Space Launch Services and other systems that utilize Earth re-entry vehicles. TUFROC has an exposed surface design and appropriate materials combination that will allow a space vehicle to survive both the mechanical stresses of the initial ascent and the extreme heating and stress of re-entry. It provides a thermal protection tile attachment system that is suitable for application to a space vehicle leading edge and for other uses in extreme heating environments (up to 3600 degree F., and possibly higher, for short time intervals).