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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 See all Example Sentences for heat shield 

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of heat shield was in 1962

Dictionary Entries Near heat shield

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!