How Dream Chaser Is Trying To Reinvent The Heat Shield!

At this point, Dream Chaser Tenacity is set to launch for the first time in only a few months. For the last few years, this spaceplane has been undergoing testing and general manufacturing. One area in particular that has been a main focus for the company has been its intricate heat shield. Here thousands of unique tiles are positioned across the spaceplane to create a barrier from the intense forces and heat during reentry. Looking back in time, the Space Shuttle experienced a host of issues with its heat shield which consisted of tens of thousands of tiles. These problems increased the time necessary between each mission, and jeopardized astronaut safety. Sierra Space however is confident the tiles they are using today are a significant improvement from the technology we saw in the past. Here I will go more in-depth into the modern spaceplane heat shield, Tenacity’s first launch, improvements from past designs, and more. Full article here - For more space-related content check out - Credit: NASA - SNC - Chapters: 0:00 - Intro 0:47 - Dream Chaser’s Heat Shield 3:32 - New Technology