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heat shield
noun
: a barrier of ablative material to protect a space capsule from heat on its entry into an atmosphere
Examples of heat shield in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When its mission concludes, most of the probe will incinerate, leaving only its carbon heat shield to orbit the sun for potentially billions of years, until the very end of the solar system itself.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 27 Dec. 2024
It’s hoped that its robust heat shield will protect its instruments.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
After the Orion space capsule returned to Earth, engineers noticed flaws in the spacecraft’s heat shield, the structure that protects its astronaut crew from the temperatures of atmospheric re-entry, which can reach up to 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit.
—Olatunji Osho-Williams, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024
DeChambeau was with President-elect Donald Trump, Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, and several others as SpaceX scientists sought to push the rocket to the max in order to learn more about heat shields and which shields and configurations may perform best, among other things.
—Ryan Gaydos, Fox News, 27 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1962, in the meaning defined above
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Cite this Entry
“Heat shield.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heat%20shield. Accessed 7 Jan. 2025.
Kids Definition
heat shield
noun
: a barrier of insulation to protect a space capsule from heat on its return to earth
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