Spacecraft High Tensile Fabric Barrier for Hot Re-Entry Gases

摘要

A multi-layer shell structure for a vehicle and method of providing a multi-layer shell structure for a vehicle. The multi-layer structure includes a thermal protection system (TPS) layer, a structural layer connected to the TPS layer, and a high tensile fabric barrier layer bonded to the structural layer. Room-temperature-vulcanizing silicone may be used to bond the TPS layer to the structural layer and bond the high tensile fabric barrier layer to the structural layer. The high tensile fabric barrier layer may create a seal on the structural layer. The multi-layer shell structure may include inner shell enclosing a passenger and/or cargo compartment and an annulus between the inner shell and the high tensile fabric barrier layer. The high tensile fabric barrier layer may prohibit entry of gas into the annulus in the event a hole is created through a portion of the multi-layer shell structure.