New Materials

Abstract

Brief Particulars of Recently Introduced Materials likely to have Aircraft, Missile or Space Vehicle Applications. Two new materials, designed to protect space vehicles during the re‐entry phase, were tested recently during the six‐orbit flight by Cdr. Walter Schirra in Mercury Sigma‐7. The materials were developed by U.S. General Electric at its Space Sciences Laboratory for the specific purpose of dissipating the heat built up during the long, gradual re‐entry of a satellite—in contrast to the short burst of high temperature experienced by the abrupt re‐entry of a ballistic missile nose‐cone.