0 the part of a spacecraft's structure that prevents it from getting too hot as it returns to earth --
A heat shield would protect the spacecraft from the heat of reentry, and a parachute would slow the craft for a water landing.
Total capsule length was 10.8 ft, including a retrorocket pack strapped over the heat shield.
Its heat shield and retrorockets functioned as expected.
The fused silica outer pane served as both a debris shield and as part of the heat shield.
The third deck consisted of a heat shield to protect the spacecraft from the firing of the velocity control engine.
The unit also featured wings and heat shield for atmospheric reentry.
The engine heat shield, though strictly not part of the engine, is fabricated from an alloy of titanium.
There are three feedback loops altogether: two a. c. bridges for the copper plates, and a commercial d. c. bridge controller for the vacuum can and heat shield.
