ABQ Times

Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque has been testing heat shield materials for NASA missions at its National Solar Thermal Test Facility. This facility, which uses the sun's power to simulate the extreme conditions of atmospheric reentry and hypersonic flight, recently conducted tests supporting two NASA projects.

The Mars Sample Return campaign is a joint mission between NASA and the European Space Agency aimed at bringing Martian rocks back to Earth. "This would be the first mission to return rocks from Mars to Earth; it’s got a bigger payload," said Ken Armijo, a Sandia engineer and test director for the NASA tests. The campaign's Sample Retrieval Lander would land on Mars with a large payload and use a rocket to send collected samples into orbit.

Armijo highlighted Sandia's unique ability to test material samples up to three feet wide using sunlight concentrated by heliostats. This method could save significant energy compared to other testing techniques like arc jets or lasers. The facility features a 200-foot-tall tower surrounded by 212 mirrored heliostats.

"Typically, NASA missions test their heat shield materials at several different facilities with different capabilities before certifying the material for flight," said Brandon Smith from NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Sandia’s facility allows for larger sample testing than traditional methods, offering more comprehensive data on material performance during reentry.

Another project tested at Sandia is Dragonfly, developed by Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory. This rotorcraft aims to explore Saturn’s moon Titan. Testing focused on heat shields that must withstand Titan's dense atmosphere during entry.

Daniel Ray, Sandia mechanical technologist, addressed issues during these tests by modifying equipment as needed. "My role on every project is to make it work," he said.

Additionally, researchers from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory have used Sandia’s facility for testing new aerospace technologies such as heat exchangers designed for high-speed solar slingshot maneuvers around the sun.

The solar test facility has been involved in various aerospace research projects since its inception in 1979, including radar protection domes and space shuttle components' resilience assessments against rapid temperature changes.