AFRL Conducts Successful Tests of Mechanically Attached Blanket Published Dec. 12, 2006 By Plans and Programs Directorate AFRL/XP WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio -- AFRL engineers completed testing of three mechanically attached blankets designed to improve current thermal protection systems (TPS) for reusable space access vehicles. These flexible, insulating blankets are easier to attach and remove than the current adhesive tile TPS used on the space shuttle and other reentry vehicles subjected to high heat during reentry. During the testing, engineers used AFRL's Combined-Environment Acoustic Chamber to subject three blankets with different attachment configurations to extremely high temperatures and vibration in order to simulate vehicle reentry conditions. They designed the tests to verify the attachment for the mechanically attached insulation and demonstrate the readiness of an attachment concept for near-term structural ground demonstrations. All tests ran successfully, and all three blanket concepts exceeded expectations. The design employs fasteners, magnets, or bolts to attach the one-piece blanket to the vehicle, which allows maintenance crews to attach and remove the blankets more easily than the current adhesive tiles permit. Due to the simplified maintenance process, the total maintenance time after reentry could potentially be reduced from 3 weeks to 1 day, allowing a quicker turnaround time before relaunch. Upon completion of the analysis, engineers will select two of the three blanket concepts for further tests involving each blanket's thermal/acoustic characteristics, attachment mechanisms, and removal/attachment process.