Heat Shield, Fragment, Ablated, Apollo CM 009

To protect the Apollo Command Module from the extreme heat of reentry, NASA chose an ablative heat shield composed of a brazed steel honeycomb structure impregnated with phenolic epoxy resin. The earliest test flights of Apollo command modules were designed in large part to test the performance of the heat shield. This heat shield section is from the aft (blunt end) shield from Apollo Command Module 009, which was flown on the unmanned AS 201 test mission on February 26, 1966. Although the sensors intended to monitor heating and behavior of the heat shield failed to operate properly, the command module and heat shield were recovered and the latter subsequently subject to careful examination and testing.

Following completion of the tests (which were destructive in many cases), the heat shield was offered to the Smithsonian. In 1972, prior to shipping, it was cut up into small displayable pieces at the Smithsonian's request.