Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) heat shield technology, a light-weight material capable of withstanding high temperatures, is used by SpaceX on the Dragon capsules.
The Phenolic-Impregnated Carbon Ablator (PICA) heat shield, a lightweight material designed to withstand high temperatures, was first used by NASA. SpaceX later worked with PICA’s inventors at Ames Research Center to outfit its Dragon capsule, pictured here, which is now delivering cargo to and from the International Space Station.
For more information about this technology or any other spinoff, please visit http://spinoff.nasa.gov/.
Image Credit: SpaceX