What a difference a day makes…

What difference a day makes – on right Dragon in Space a day before splashdown picture

So what keeps it from burning up on entry?

The Heat Shield

PICA-X
Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) was developed by NASA Ames Research Center. An improved and easier to manufactured version called PICA-X was developed by SpaceX in 2006-2010 at cost 10 times less than the NASA PICA. A PICA-X heat shield is theoretically re-usable hundreds of times with only minor degradation.

The Paint

SOLEC’s LO/MIT-I Radiant Barrier Coating

Read about it here

This is usually used as a reflective barrier roof coating.

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