heat shield

noun

: a barrier of ablative material to protect a space capsule from heat on its entry into an atmosphere

Examples of heat shield in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Once in space, however, Starship successfully deployed its payload of 20 Starlink V3 satellites, some of which were armed with cameras to check its heat shield—and offer audiences on the ground in-flight views of the rocket in space. — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 25 July 2026

SpaceX engineers flew drones over the vehicle to inspect its heat shield, getting their best look yet at how more than 18,000 ceramic tiles insulating the ship’s stainless steel airframe weathered the trip to space and back. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 July 2026

The primary goal is to evaluate how the Starship’s heat shield — a coating of hexagonal tiles designed to protect the ship from the scorching temperatures of reentry — performs. — Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 16 July 2026

Six of the 20 satellites also have cameras on board to scan Starship’s heat shield, which continues to be modified for the rocket’s ultimate operational configuration. — Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 16 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1962, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for heat shield

• afield
• airfield
• annealed
• appealed
• brownfield
• coalfield
• concealed
• congealed
• cornfield
• downfield
• goldfield
• hayfield

Kids Definition

heat shield

noun

: a barrier of insulation to protect a space capsule from heat on its return to earth