Recent research shows that ultra-high temperature ceramics (UHTCs) may enable sharp leading edges to be used on space vehicles. Sharp leading edges (51 centimeter) could enable an entire new design space for hypervelocity vehicles with decreased drag, increased cross-range capability, and reduced cost-to-orbit. These factors, combined with results from ground-based testing and analysis, led to the implementation of the first UHTC flight demonstration. The objective of this flight was to validate the nonablating pertormance of a UHTC sharp leading edge by comparing flight data Lvith theorized material performance data. Implementation of the UHTC flight demonstration was a joint effort by Ames Research Center, Sandia National Laboratories, and the U.S. Air Force.

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