heat shield design

A heat shield is a protective barrier designed to withstand extreme temperatures, often used in spacecraft during re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. It absorbs and dissipates the intense heat generated by friction between the spacecraft and atmospheric particles. Made from materials like ablative composites or ceramics, a heat shield is engineered to either burn away slowly (ablative) or reflect heat (radiative) to keep the vehicle and its occupants safe. Its design is crucial for ensuring spacecraft can survive the intense conditions of re-entry and safely return to Earth.