Use materials science engineering to determine heat resistance

Crew and cargo returning from the International Space Station need to be protected from the heat that is generated during the capsule’s descent. This materials science and engineering lesson plan begins with students exploring the properties of different heat shield construction materials. Then, they run trials with samples to collect heat resistance data. Next, they feed their data into a model to simulate how well their capsule is protected during its descent.

Build and learn

Students build a testing apparatus using thermistors and use it to test the thermal insulation of a variety of materials.

Connect your tools

Students connect their materials testing apparatus to a custom Excel workbook with an Arduino UNO or micro:bit microcontroller.

Visualize the data

Using data visualizations in Excel, students measure the heat shielding ability of several materials in a testing scenario. They then analyze their data using a capsule reentry simulation and recommend a material for further testing.