Can you guess what is featured in the photographs in this third article of a mini-series of sorts? Read on to find out the answer to What Is This? Part 3.
What Is This? Part 3.
The answer is LI-900 silica tiles, which are part of the thermal protection system of the space shuttle orbiter known as Discovery. They were essentially manufactured from pure quartz sand. The main purpose of the tiles was to provide insulation in order to prevent the transfer of heat to the underlying aluminum skin and structure of the orbiter.
The location of the tiles that are featured in the photograph are on the left front side of Discovery below the window and adjacent to the left wing. A special silicone adhesive was used to glue greater than 24,000 tiles to the orbiter.
Printed on each tile is a unique identification number which accordingly gives details of its batch and location.
Final Boarding Call
You can view Discovery at the Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian, which is located in Chantilly in Virginia just south of Washington Dulles International Airport.
All photographs ©2023 by Brian Cohen.
