According to the news of New Atlas, the product that ESA will test and named after King Arthur’s Pridwen shield is designed to protect spacecraft returning to earth.
The space shield, which folds with the “origami technique” and resembles an inverted umbrella when unfolded, is intended to offer a larger surface area, unlike existing disposable heat shields that detach from the vehicle.
Instead of cutting off the heat that causes the spacecraft to burn and disappear when it enters the atmosphere, the shield, which aims to reflect this, will slow down the spacecraft with a water-based mesh called “Fielder”, allowing it to quickly return to the station.
IT WILL BE USED TO BRING MATERIAL
The shield, produced by the Wales-based Space Forge company and successfully passed the test at an altitude of 17 kilometers, will be used for the first time to bring material from space with ForgeStar-1A, the first spacecraft launched by the company at the end of the year.
Stating that supermaterials produced in space will contribute to high energy savings in the world, Space Forge co-founder Andrew Bacon said, “Pridwen and Fielder are key to our plan for the production of fully reusable satellites that can start a new industrial revolution.” used the phrases.
The company also aims to launch a space-based manufacturing service to produce high-quality pharmaceuticals, superconductors and super-alloy products in space by taking advantage of the low gravity and pollution and high temperature level. (AA)