+ 1970 News Releases (7.6 Mb PDF file) - NASA

NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
.NNED SPACECRAFT
Houston
CENTER 1. Texas
483-5111 September 2, 1970
MSC 70-95
HOUSTON_ TEXAS--The NASA Manned Spacecraft Center has awarded
six-month parallel contracts for the development of radiative nonmetallics
to be used as high temperature heat protection on the space
shuttle.
Winning the a_¢ards are the Missiles and Space Division of Ling-
Temco-Vought, Dallas, Texas_ and the Astronautics Company of McDonnell
Douglas Corporation_ St. Louis_ Missouri.
The fixed-price co_;racts are expected to cost approximately $215,000
each.
Unlike the single-flight Apollo heat protection that was required
for one mission, the space shuttle is designed to operate as an airplane
for many missions and to provide a comparatively low cost method
of transportation.
To meet multi-flig_; requirements_ NASA is seeking a new generation
of materials which can be directed to,card application to the leading
edge structure of the shuttle orbiter wing and tail surfaces. A thermal
protection system must be able to sustain multiple applications in all
environments imposed from Earth launching through orbit_ entry_ maneuver
to landing site and finally landing.
The major goals of this contract are to achieve a reliable leading
edge design arfi materials that can accommodate a multi-mission life
capable of withstanding _p to 4_000 degrees F; and this must be done
at reasonable weights anff costs.
The two contracts are for the first phases of the development of
an oxidation resistant c_rbon-carbon material called Reinforced Pyrolized
Plastic (RPP) composite. The contractors will perform such tasks as
studying various processing techniques for the incorporation of oxidation
inhibitors_ eharacteriziag the materials by obtaining thermal and physical
properties and making evaluation studies.
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