| heat shield n. A barrier that prevents the heating of a space or an object by absorbing, reflecting, or dissipating external heat, especially a protective structure on a spacecraft or missile that dissipates heat on atmospheric reentry by melting and vaporizing. |
heat shield
n
(Astronautics) a coating or barrier for shielding from excessive heat, such as that experienced by a spacecraft on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere
heat′ shield`
n.
an exterior coating or structure that protects a spacecraft from excessive heating during reentry.
[1955–60]
| heat shield A barrier that prevents a substance from absorbing heat energy from an outside source by absorbing and dissipating, or simply reflecting, that heat. Heat shields are commonly used to protect parts of a device from heat generated by its energy source, as in isolating the cabin of a car from its motor. Many spacecraft dissipate heat generated by friction with the atmosphere upon reentry using heat shields that melt and vaporize, dissipating the energy back into the atmosphere. |
Thesaurus Legend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  heat shield - a protective covering that protects a spacecraft from overheating on reentrynose cone, ogive - front consisting of the conical head of a missile or rocket that protects the payload from heat during its passage through the atmosphere protective cover, protective covering, protection - a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury; "they had no protection from the fallout"; "wax provided protection for the floors" ballistic capsule, space vehicle, spacecraft - a craft capable of traveling in outer space; technically, a satellite around the sun |
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