Atoms: LI-900 Space Shuttle Insulation Tiles (c. 1985)
These tiles were made to protect the Space Shuttles during their reentry into Earth’s atmosphere. They are made of 99.9 percent pure silica glass fibers and are 94 percent air by volume. This makes the tiles very light, but also resistant to heat as high as 2,200º F (1,200º C). Courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
Courtesy of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
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Discover Atoms
Learn more about the amazing properties of atoms in Science Storms.