Object Details
Manufacturer
Lockheed Missiles and Space Co.
Summary
Black HRSI (high-temperature reusable surface insulation) tiles were an integral component of the Space Shuttle orbiter's thermal protection system. This system shielded the vehicle from the destructively searing heat of re-entry into the atmosphere and also provided passive thermal control in orbit. About 23,000 black tiles shielded the entire underside of the orbiter, as well as portions of the vertical tail, wings, and forward and aft fuselage where temperatures reach 1,200-2,300 degrees F (650-1,260 degrees C). This tile was removed from the lower right wing after being damaged on the first flight of Columbia in 1981. NASA transferred a number of such tiles to the Museum after the STS-1 mission.
Credit Line
Transferred from the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Inventory Number
A19820017000
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
Type
SPACECRAFT-Crewed-Parts & Structural Components
Materials
Ceramic
Silica Fibers
Glass Coating
Ink
Adhesive
Possible Paint
Uncharacterized Fibrous Materials
Dimensions
3-D (Dark Coated Tile): 14.9 × 11.1 × 3.8cm (5 7/8 × 4 3/8 × 1 1/2 in.)
3-D (Light Coated Tile): 9.5 × 12.7 × 2.2cm (3 3/4 × 5 × 7/8 in.)
Country of Origin
United States of America
See more items in
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Link to Original Record
Record ID
nasm_A19820017000