{"id":22114,"date":"2022-09-27T23:39:22","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T15:39:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wp-productionenv-bjg9h2g2bgg5b8aa.southeastasia-01.azurewebsites.net\/news\/nasa-investigated-water-degradation-in-crew-4s-heat-shield-found-okay-to-fly\/"},"modified":"2022-09-27T23:39:22","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T15:39:22","slug":"nasa-investigated-water-degradation-in-crew-4s-heat-shield-found-okay-to-fly","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/starpath.global\/news\/nasa-investigated-water-degradation-in-crew-4s-heat-shield-found-okay-to-fly\/","title":{"rendered":"NASA investigated water degradation in Crew-4\u2019s heat shield, found okay to fly"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

\t<\/iframe><\/ins><\/p>\n

<\/span><\/p>\n

Two documents obtained by Space Explored <\/em>via a Freedom of Information Act request show the start and conclusion of support the NASA Engineering and Safety Center provided to the Commercial Crew Program. The first document is simply an overview of the request, while the second, which was partially redacted, reveals the NESC\u2019s findings.<\/p>\n

Crew-4 heat shield<\/h2>\n

Crew-4, unlike SpaceX\u2019s other crewed launches for NASA, used a composite structure that had already been flown underneath the primary thermal protection system. This means the structure underwent the stress of launch and reentry and that it was potentially exposed to water following its previous splashdown. While this structure was reused, Crew-4 was the first launch of their capsule, Crew Dragon Freedom.<\/p>\n

\"Site<\/figure>\n

The Commercial Crew Program Material and Processes engineering reached out to the NESC for assistance in evaluating the damage on the heat shield as a result of corrosion.<\/p>\n