Sixth and final solar-tower test campaign completed for Dragonfly's heat shield.
Sandia National Laboratories has completed the sixth and final test campaign to qualify the heat shield thermal protection system for NASA's Dragonfly mission to Titan. The tests were conducted at Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test Facility.
Simulating Titan's Descent
The tests simulated the heating conditions Dragonfly will experience during its two-hour descent through Titan's atmosphere. To achieve this, researchers mounted heat shield segments at the top of a 200-foot solar tower and focused sunlight onto a 24-inch area, delivering heat pulses exceeding 4,500°F.
In addition to extreme heat, the team used inert gas to flow over the samples, closely approximating the unique atmospheric conditions on Titan.
Material and Test Samples
The heat shield material under evaluation is PICA-D (Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator-Domestic), developed by NASA's Ames Research Center. The tests examined a variety of segment types to ensure comprehensive performance data, including:
- Flat segments
- Rounded shoulder segments
- Gap fillers
- Pristine samples versus intentionally marred samples
Purpose and Broader Impact
"The data will be used by NASA to complete qualification work for Dragonfly's heat shield system."
Beyond the Dragonfly mission, Sandia has refined a test method that can be applied to national security programs, including nuclear deterrence. Ken Armijo, Sandia's lead engineer and test director, noted that the facility can simulate heating profiles on a physical and time scale meaningful for flight, using concentrated sunlight to deliver repeatable tests and independent validation.