Let's talk about thermal protection systems

John Powell came up with an interesting idea: use an Airship. The Airship would decelerate at high altitude, where the air is thinner, and take longer, resulting in lower heating per square meter.

I wouldn't use this kind of system. The system I would use are hanglider style wings, to increase surface area. I'd make them out of something light (plastic?) coated in a heat resistent paint.

What about applying "Wurtzit-Bornitrid" as layer? An article under www.wissenschaft.de referring to www.newscientist.com/article/dn16610-di ... erial.html says that it is harder than diamond by 18% and can resist to higher temperatures than Lonsdaleite which is harder than diamond by 58%.

According to the article both materials are of interest for layers of space vehicles.



What about it?



Dipl.-Volkswirt (bdvb) Augustin (Political Economist)