2. SPACE SHUTTLE TILES
To go to space we need a space suit. Similarly a space
tile is a space suit for space shuttle.
3. Tile Description
• Much of the shuttle was covered with LI-900 silica tiles,
made from essentially very pure quartz sand.
• LI-900 is a type of reusable surface insulation tile
developed and manufactured by Space Company,
California. It was designed for use on the Space Shuttle
orbiter as part of its thermal protection system to
minimize thermal conductivity while providing maximum
thermal shock resistance.
• The insulation prevented heat transfer to the underlying
orbiter aluminum skin and structure.
• These tiles were such poor heat conductors that one
could hold one by the edges while it was still red hot.
4. HIGH TEMPERATURE REUSABLE SURFACE
INSULATION (HRSI)
• HRSI tiles (black in color)
provided protection
against temperatures up to
1,260 °C (2,300 °F).
• These tiles covered the
landing gear doors, upper
body flap surface,and the
rest of the orbiter's under
surfaces.
• Thickness varies from 1 to
5 inches (2.5 to 12.7 cm).
5. • The area of this tile is 479.7(meter sq.)
• The HRSI tile was composed of high purity silica fibers.
• 90% of the volume of the tile was empty space, giving it a
very low density (140 kg/m3) making it light enough for
spaceflight.The remaining 10% are silica fibres.
• The outer portion of the tile is covered with black-glazed
coating of borosilicate .These tiles do most of coating job
by shedding of 95% of heat encountered . The remaining
5% is absorbed by the tile's interior, preventing it from
reaching the orbiter 's aluminium skin.
6. WORKING OF SPACE SHUTTLE TILES
(HRSI)
•The white portion of the tile is made up of closed cell foam
made up with silica LI-900 which contains 90% of air.
•The black portion of the tile is made up of black Borosilicate
Glass which is generally hard like metal.
7. WORKING OF SPACE SHUTTLE TILES
•Now we will see that how the space shuttle tiles work .
(The tile temperature is normal to the room temperature)
8. WORKING OF SPACE SHUTTLE TILES
The tile temperature is reached up
to 654 ̊C.
The burner is now removed from
tile.
9. WORKING OF SPACE SHUTTLE TILES
By placing paper piece on the borosilicate glass it burns
immediately as the temperature of the glass is high.
10. WORKING OF SPACE SHUTTLE TILES
The white portion (silica)of the tile
can picked up by hand only
Borosilicate glass remit 95% of the
heat and 5%heat travel trough the
tile slowly.
11. NOW WE WILL SEE THE
DEMONSTRATION VIDEO OF THE
TILES.
12. REQUIREMENTS
• Maintain higher amount of structural integrity
• Tile condition must be easily monitored during
emission
• TPS must have on-orbit repair capabilities
• Reduce maintenance to reduce cost
15. Reusable & Cost Effective
• An installed square foot of shuttle tile material,
reusable for up to 100 missions, cost NASA about
$10,000. Comparison
• The ablative heat shields used on Apollo command
modules returning astronauts from the Moon were
priced at $30,000 per square foot, and were used only
once.
16. Future Expectations
• The production of ceramic insulation which
can withstand reentry temperatures for
spacecraft returning to Earth from the Moon
and Mars.
• Current material can withstand temperatures
of 2300ûF., but 3500ûF. reentry temperatures
will not be unusual for astronauts venturing
beyond Earth orbit.
18. TYPES OF TILES
• HIGH TEMPERATURE REUSABLE SURFACE
INSULATION (HRSI)
• LOW TEMPERATURE REUSABLE SURFACE
INSULATION (LRSI)
19. The area where LRSI (white in color) is preferred.
The shuttle cap and upper body experiences more
friction so it is necessary to adopt a shuttle having
stronger tiles at top and nib.
20. The area where HRSI (Black in color)is preferred
At the time of landing and entering the space, the
shuttle travels with an inclination which puts the
bottom into pressure so it is necessary to fix more
strengthen tiles over there.
22. HOW TO ASSEMBLE?
• Just alike tiles, the fixing material must also be
temperature bearing in order to hold the tiles
onto the shuttle skin.
• Due to high temperature variation, the shuttle
experiences expansion and contraction but
these tiles are brittle in nature so it is
necessary to design a glue having the ability to
withstand the forces.
23. ATTACHING MEDIUM
• The space shuttle tiles are attached to the skin
of the shuttle by the means of a binding
medium called “VITRON” glue.
• This glue is designed to bear the expansion
and contraction along with maintaining the
bonding with the host material.
• Composed of carbon and silicon composite
with lithium ions.
