Does Vss Unity Have a Heat Shield?

Orbital spacecraft re-enter the atmosphere around 16,000 mph, which causes the need for heat shields to be installed on the underside of the craft to protect instruments and life onboard. This is not necessary for the VSS Unity though, since its velocity zeros out just past the edge of the Karman Line.

Does unity have a heat shield?

The company is laying the groundwork for powered tests: During today's flight, Unity carried water ballast to simulate the rocket motor's weight, and it was outfitted with a thermal protection system, which will shield the spacecraft from the heat and friction of atmospheric re-entry, Virgin Galactic representatives ...

Did Virgin Galactic have a heat shield?

Despite all the drag, the feathering formation is also stable—so stable that Virgin Galactic officials have said pilots can take their hands off the controls. And with the craft's low weight, re-entry temperatures remain low compared with other manned spacecraft, making heat shields or tiles unnecessary.