Germany To Test Actively-Cooled Spacecraft

FleaPlus writes "The German Aerospace Center is planning to launch a novel reusable spacecraft in 2011, incorporating flat, damage-resistant tiles. Nitrogen will be pumped through the porous tiles, creating a protective gas layer that actively cools and shields the hottest parts of the spacecraft from the searing heat of reentry. The €12.5M unmanned 'SHEFEX II' project is a major technological step toward the team's eventual goal of a reusable space glider, which will be cheaper and easier to build than NASA's space shuttle."

Comments

Nitrogen?

[caspy7]

I'm sure it's a lack of understanding the chemistry/physics of the situation on my part, but if nitrogen gets too hot doesn't it become explosive? (a la nitroglycerin)
Is that not a possibility here?

Re:Nitrogen?

[Anonymous Coward]

Yeah, I'm sure that is one of the reasons people are so concerned about global warming.

Re:why the obession with glider spacecraft?

[Bruce Perens]

Re-entry heat shields are useless in space too, just as landing gear are useless for flying!

:-)

I think you want them for the same reason that we don't all parachute to our destination when our plane gets there. Although I can't say I haven't been tempted.

USA USA...oh wait GERMANY GERMANY

[Anonymous Coward]

lol

Re:Thank God it's unmanned

[h4rr4r]

I am glad we have you to make these observations, I am sure the scientist and engineers working on this project have not thought about such issues. I urge you to email them right away with your insight into their project.

Heatsink Technology

[Anonymous Coward]

I knew all that Pentium 4 heatsink technology would scale someday!