%0 Conference Paper %B 41st Annual Conference, San Jose, California, May 17-19 %D 1982 %T 1457. Development of a New Weight Saving Tile Material for the Shuttle Orbiter %A Clancy, H M %A Ehret, R M %K 18. Weight Engineering - Spacecraft Design %X The Space Shuttle vehicle has been developed to provide an economical means for placing payloads and personnel into low earth orbits. The Shuttle Orbiter is launched, orbits and re-enters like a spacecraft but lands like an airplane. Its structure is similar to conventional aircraft but with the addition of a sophisticated Thermal Protection System (TPS) bonded to its aluminum skins to maintain their temperature below 350F. The challenge of the program has been the development of a lightweight reusable TPS capable of surviving 100 flights. The major portion of the TPS consists of 31,000 pure silica tiles two densities, nine (LI-900) and twenty two pounds (LI-2200) per cubic foot. Approximately 2000 of the LI-2200 tiles are used around TPS penetrations like the landing gear doors to resist the high loads imposed by door actuation. A study of TPS weight reduction potential was initiated in 1976 with the participation of NASA-Ames, Lockheed Missiles and Space Co., Inc. and Rockwell International Space Division. The first TPS weight reduction item t o be implemented is a new tile material called Fibrous Refractory Composite Insulation (FRCI-12) which will replace about 85% of the LI-2200 tile. The new tile material is both stronger and lighter (at 12 PCF) and will result in a 945 pound weight saving on Orbiter vehicle OV-103 and subs. The development, qualification and implement of this new tile material are presented. %B 41st Annual Conference, San Jose, California, May 17-19 %I Society of Allied Weight Engineers, Inc. %C San Jose, California %P 6 %8 5/17/82 %G eng %U https://www.sawe.org/papers/1457/buy %9 18. WEIGHT ENGINEERING - SPACECRAFT DESIGN %M 1457 %1 Non-Member Price: $20.00; Member Price: $10.00 Members: First 10 product downloads are Free. %2 10.00 %3 20 %4 SAWE1457