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Name: AFRSI Blanket
Database: NASA Ames Thermal Protection Materials
Category: Silicon-Based Reusable Composites: Composite Flexible Blankets
Composition: AFRSI is composed of 0.027-inch-thick Astroquartz outer fabric (MB0135-072 Type IV), Q-felt insulation, and 0.009-inch-thick S-glass inner fabric (MB0135-089) sewn together with Astroquartz thread.
Manufacturer: United Space Alliance. Inc., Schuler Corporation (maybe?), HiTemp Insulations, Oceaneering Thermal Systems
Technical Readiness Level: 9
Last Modified: 2001-10-01

Description:

• AFRSI is a quilted blanket TPS consisting of a woven silica outer fabric, a woven glass inner fabric, and fibrous silica batting sewn together with silica thread. AFRSI is a quilted blanket TPS consisting of a woven silica outer fabric, a woven glass inner fabric, and fibrous silica batting sewn together with silica thread.This construction, also referred to as Type II AFRSI or Shuttle AFRSI, was developed from Type I AFRSI which has a thinner outer fabric. Type II AFRSI is currently used on a large percentage of the leeside surfaces of the Shuttle Orbiter. A blanket water-proofing agent is typically applied to AFRSI at the factory and again between flights. Currently AFRSI is flown on the shuttle vehicles with a C-9 coating on the outer surface. In addition to meeting emittance requirements, the coating makes the outer surface more rigid and helps to protect the blanket's top surface fibers from aerodynamically-induced abrasion. Compared to tile-type TPS, AFRSI's installed cost is low, but its aerodynamic capabilities are far more limited. It has a much rougher surface finish than most tiles and therefore has an increased propensity to force a laminar boundary layer into turbulence. This increased roughness can also produce markedly amplified local heating where boundary layers are relatively thin, such as the windward side of most reentry vehicles. Additionally, AFRSI has less tensile and shear strength compared to tiles, making it less applicable in areas of high aerodynamic loading; especially rapidly fluctuating aerodynamic loads. Although the blanket is very flexible during installation, its surface becomes hardened after application of the C-9 coating and brittle after thermal exposure.

Point of Contact:

• Marc Rezin
• NASA Ames Research Center
• mrezin@mail.arc.nasa.gov