Almost a month ago, Boeing successfully completed the first unmanned aircraft Test Flight CST-100 Starliner to the International Space Stationeffectively demonstrate the new spacecraft’s ability to put people and cargo into Earth’s orbit.
Of the tons of valuable test data, one thing has not gone unnoticed by most observers: why the Starliner doesn’t look burned and is generally cleaner after landing than SpaceX’s Dragon and many other space capsules?
Teams of Boeing and NASA work around Boeing’s CST-100 Starliner spacecraft after it landed in the Space Harbor of the White Sands Rocket Range, Wednesday, May 25, 2022, in New Mexico. Image credit: NASA via FlickrCC BY-NC-ND 2.0
The main secret is that Boeing’s spacecraft uses two types of heat shields. The so-called ablative shield covers the main area of the shell responsible for the spacecraft’s deceleration, where temperatures reach 1650°C (3000°F) and this protective layer slowly burns, taking away most of the tremendous heat this. Meanwhile, a non-abrasive heat shield covers the rear area where heat loads are significantly lower. This second type of protection can be reused in future flights, and only the front part has to be completely replaced.
In addition, Starliner uses a number of other interesting features to minimize the effects of material combustion, where the shape of the capsule also plays an important role. Watch the following video for an in-depth explanation:
