Context
Recently, the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) reported that Gaganyaan’s Thermal Protection System (TPS) has been developed and tested, while preparations for the first uncrewed G1 mission are progressing. The heat shield will protect the crew module from extreme temperatures during atmospheric re-entry.
Explanation
- Gaganyaan is India’s human-spaceflight programme for low-Earth orbit; its Orbital Module has a habitable Crew Module and an unpressurised Service Module.
- During re-entry at about 7.5–8 km per second, compression of the air ahead creates an extremely hot shock layer.
- The outer surface may approach 1,800°C, while the interior must stay below about 150°C.
- A Thermal Protection System (TPS) may be ablative, radiative or heat-sink — sacrificing material, re-radiating heat, or storing it within its mass.
- Gaganyaan’s ablative heat shield absorbs heat, decomposes and forms an insulating char layer; escaping gases (outgassing) carry heat away and create a cooler boundary layer.
- As the material is consumed it is single-use, but proven, reliable and able to handle rapidly changing heat loads.
- ISRO earlier demonstrated the technology through SRE and CARE; a reliable shield is vital because astronauts cannot react fast enough during re-entry.
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