Space Shuttle thermal protection system

Okay, so you know how sometimes things get really hot when they're moving very fast? Like when you rub your hands together really fast and they get warm?

Well, when a space shuttle blasts off into space, it goes super fast, like really, really, REALLY fast. So fast that it creates a lot of heat that could damage the shuttle if it wasn't protected.

That's why the space shuttle has a special coat to protect it from getting too hot. It's called the thermal protection system.

The thermal protection system is made up of lots of different parts, like tiles, blankets, and panels. These parts are all really good at insulating the shuttle from the heat that's created during launch and when it re-enters the Earth's atmosphere.

The tiles are made of a special material called silica. Silica is really good at absorbing heat, so when the shuttle gets hot, the tiles soak up all that heat and keep the shuttle cool.

Another part of the thermal protection system is the blankets. These are made from special materials that reflect the heat away from the shuttle. They work kind of like shiny foil that you might use to wrap food in.

The panels are also made from special materials that can withstand high temperatures. They cover the areas of the shuttle that get the hottest, like the nose and the bottom part.

All of these parts work together to protect the space shuttle from the extreme heat it faces during launch and re-entry. Without the thermal protection system, the shuttle wouldn't be able to survive the trip into space and back.