<< Return to Material Data

Name: SLA-561V [virgin]
Database: NASA Ames Thermal Protection Materials
Category: Silicon-Based Ablators
Composition: N/A
Manufacturer: N/A
Technical Readiness Level: N/A
Last Modified: 1996-08-01

Description:

• Silicone based ablator incorporating a reinforcing honeycomb manufactured by Lockheed Martin and used as the primary heatshield for the Mars Viking Missions. Sla-561V consists of a mixture of silicone, silica microballoons, corks and silica glass fibers. This mixture is then injected into the phenolic honeycomb cells. <BR><BR> SLA-561V was also baselined as the forebody heatshield the Mars/Pathfinder probe which is scheduled to be launched in December 1996 and arriving at the martian surface in July 1997. The main difference between the SLA-561V fore Viking and Mars/Pathfinder is the size of the honeycomb cells and the heat shield thickness. The Mars/Pathfinder uses a smaller honeycomb cells and has a thickness of 0.75 in. The increase in thickness is necessary because the peak heating rate on Mars/Pathfinder is predicted to be around 120 Btu/sqft-s with stagnation pressure of 0.25 atm.

Point of Contact:

• Frank S. Milos
• NASA Ames Research Center
• fmilos@mail.arc.nasa.gov