When a spacecraft reenters Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic velocities, its protective heat shield faces extreme conditions, including temperatures beyond 3,000 degrees Fahrenheit (1,650 degrees Celsius). To survive, the shield relies on specialized materials that absorb heat as they degrade in ...
Source: [Phys.org](https://phys.org/news/2026-09-real-spacecraft-shields-extreme-conditions.html)