heat shield

noun

: a barrier of ablative material to protect a space capsule from heat on its entry into an atmosphere

Examples of heat shield in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Officials were eager to assess the performance of Starship Block 2's heat shield before committing to an attempt to recover the ship intact (like SpaceX is already doing with the Super Heavy booster) on a future mission. Stephen Clark, Ars Technica, 7 Mar. 2025 The space planes feature delta wings, heat shield tiles and a compat payload bay, and are powered by an extendable solar array that allows for extremely long flights. Kerry Breen, CBS News, 7 Mar. 2025 To avoid the fate of the mythological Greek figure Icarus, the spacecraft comes with a heat shield that will keep its sensitive instruments just above room temperature, at roughly 85 degrees Fahrenheit. Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2024 The probe is equipped with a 4.5-inch-thick heat shield made of a carbon-composite material, which can withstand temperatures up to 2,500 F while keeping the spacecraft instruments at a comfortable temperature, despite its proximity to our roiling star. Dan Perry, Newsweek, 18 Dec. 2024 See All Example Sentences for heat shield

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heat shield was in 1962

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Cite this Entry

“Heat shield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20shield. Accessed 20 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

heat shield

noun
: a barrier of insulation to protect a space capsule from heat on its return to earth
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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