What are thermal protection systems?

Thermal protection systems are like supercoats that help things stay cool or warm when they’re in extreme heat or cold.

Imagine you're wearing a thick winter coat on a freezing day, it keeps you warm by blocking the cold. Thermal protection systems work in a similar way, but for things like spacecraft or astronauts who go into space.

Think of them as special blankets that wrap around something to protect it from really hot or really cold temperatures. These blankets might be made of materials that reflect heat, like shiny foil, or they might trap heat inside, like a cozy sweater.

When a spaceship goes through the atmosphere while re-entering Earth, it moves so fast that it creates super-hot air around it, like when you rub your hands together really hard and they get warm. Thermal protection systems help keep the spaceship from getting too hot by either reflecting the heat away or letting it slowly escape.

Sometimes these systems are even covered in little tiles that can handle all the heat, just like how a pot has handles so you don’t burn your hand when you carry it.