heat shield

heat shield

n. A barrier that prevents the heating of a space or an object by absorbing, reflecting, or dissipating external heat, especially a protective structure on a spacecraft or missile that dissipates heat on atmospheric reentry by melting and vaporizing.

heat shield

n (Astronautics) a coating or barrier for shielding from excessive heat, such as that experienced by a spacecraft on re-entry into the earth's atmosphere

heat′ shield`

n. an exterior coating or structure that protects a spacecraft from excessive heating during reentry. [1955–60]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

heat shield - a protective covering that protects a spacecraft from overheating on reentrynose cone, ogive - front consisting of the conical head of a missile or rocket that protects the payload from heat during its passage through the atmosphereprotective cover, protective covering, protection - a covering that is intend to protect from damage or injury; "they had no protection from the fallout"; "wax provided protection for the floors"ballistic capsule, space vehicle, spacecraft - a craft capable of traveling in outer space; technically, a satellite around the sun