Sample, Heat Shield, Mercury, MA-7
Object Details
- Manufacturer
- McDonnell Aircraft Corp.
- Summary
- This fragment of the ablative heatshield of Aurora 7, the Mercury spacecraft M. Scott Carpenter flew on May 24, 1962, demonstrates the impact of reentry into the atmosphere from orbit. Each Mercury spacecraft featured a gently curved heatshield with a diameter of 203 cm (80 in) and a radius of curvature of 305 cm (120 in). Heatshields protect by creating a shock wave in the thin upper atmosphere that holds the superheated gas away from the spacecraft, creating a somewhat cooler boundary layer. An ablative shield’s material chars, melts, and sublimates, carrying away the remaining heat, protecting the spacecraft. The charring demonstrates the impact of temperatures of nearly 1100 C (2000 F) degrees during a reentry at a velocity of over 27,000 km/h (17,000 mph) from low Earth orbit.
- NASA transferred this fragment to the Smithsonian in 1967, along with the spacecraft.
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- See more items in
- National Air and Space Museum Collection
- Credit Line
- Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
- Data Source
- National Air and Space Museum
- Inventory Number
- A19680263002
- Type
- SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Parts & Structural Components
- Restrictions & Rights
- Usage conditions apply
- Materials
- Phenolic resin-based heatshield material, metal reinforcement
- Dimensions
- Approximate: 8.3 x 11.7 x 1.7cm (3 1/4 x 4 5/8 x 11/16 in.)
- Other: 6 x 10.8cm (2 3/8 in. x 4 1/4 in.)--width and length on short sides
- Record ID
- nasm_A19680263002
Rectangular metal plate with adhered and charred heatshield material over less than half its surface
