Innovative and Cost-Effective Thermal Protection Systems for Navy Reentry Bodies

The proposed program will produce graded composites consisting of a new thermoplastic resin with excellent properties leading to higher heats of ablation, low thermal conductivity and lower heat shield weight. This structure can eventually serve as an integrated Thermal Protection System (TPS) structure for Navy strategic systems or conventional strike boost glide vehicles.. General Sciences, Inc. (GSI) with support from Lockheed Martin (L/M), Valley Forge, PA proposes to conduct a proof-of-concept effort based on materials development, ablation and thermal conductivity measurements and analytical predictions on expected flight performance.