KY EPSCoR: Kentucky Re-entry Universal Payload System: Heat Shield Material Selection, Sizing and Design

Exploration of space is fundamentally limited by the amount of mass capable of being ejected from a gravity well and by the amount of mass capable of being returned safely to a celestial body. Thermal protection systems (TPS) are a critical component governing the latter case, allowing for safe return of cargo, equipment, scientific data, and most importantly, crew members. The technology introduced is a step toward developing a testbed for new TPS systems and increasing fidelity of existing models by providing real time data collection of important re-entry phenomena.