Asteroids as heatshields?

[Windspren]

Because asteroids have OP heat tolerances, they would make an ideal reusable heat shield of very large size. Their mass could also be reduced by mining its ore, also making it a gas station. They might be useful for shielding a grand tour spacecraft without need for smaller ablative heatshields. What do you think about using them as heatshields?

Edited May 17, 2015 by Laythe Dweller

[jaredkzr]

It is possible but is it really worth the hassle? For some large capital ship requiring an aerobrake, then yes, I do believe it is worth it. However, I think that using regular heat shields will be enough for the majority of scenarios.

So yes, it's possible but not too practical.

[Windspren]

But for a grand tour, many aerobrakes are needed so a reusable heatshield is a must. It won't be practical for, say, a Duna mission but for a Jool-5 it might be worth it.

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Jool-5 ships are usually quite large because of all the landers, and grand tour ships are mammoth.

[Stargate525]

Worth it simply because of the hilarity. It would be like a Mars lander grabbing Deimos on its way in and using it for a heatshield. The image is completely kerbal and must be done.

[Keith_Bones]

This actually wouldn't work at all as far as I'm aware. The way atmo heating is applied to parts in the game has nothing to do with visual occlusion, and the heat would probably still be applied to your ship like normal.

That being said, you should totally try it because it sounds awesome.

Would this be considered litho breaking?

Edited May 17, 2015 by Keith_Bones

[tater]

You might try tissue paper, it's easier to carry around.

[Windspren]

This actually wouldn't work at all as far as I'm aware. The way atmo heating is applied to parts in the game has nothing to do with visual occlusion, and the heat would probably still be applied to your ship like normal.

That being said, you should totally try it because it sounds awesome.

Would this be considered litho breaking?

Actually, I think the game calculates if a part is in front of the ship and adds the heat to it, but the heat can slowly transfer from the front part to your ship. Because asteroids have such a high heat tolerance, the heat transfer would be almost nonexistent. Someone NEEDS to try this and post pics. C'mon, it's the Kerbal Way!

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You might try tissue paper, it's easier to carry around.

What about pillows instead?

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Worth it simply because of the hilarity. It would be like a Mars lander grabbing Deimos on its way in and using it for a heatshield. The image is completely kerbal and must be done.

You could grab Gilly for an Eve landing, but it might not be big enough.

Laythe

[Rithsom]

I don't think this works. I heard asteroids have a very high amount of drag, so they would flip the entire ship around.

[Tw1]

I don't think this works. I heard asteroids have a very high amount of drag, so they would flip the entire ship around.

Have two asteroids?

Reconfigure ship as needed?

[Agate]

I spent some time this week doing this. Well, not intentionally using asteroids for heat shielding, but aerobraking asteroids in Kerbin's atmosphere. Rthsom's right: while asteroids look like space rocks, they're actually made of styrofoam, and no amount of torque could keep my space tug from flipping around engine-first as soon as it hit atmo.

Your spacecraft will act as a heat shield for your asteroid, unfortunately.

Edited May 17, 2015 by Agate

[Windspren]

I spent some time this week doing this. Well, not intentionally using asteroids for heat shielding, but aerobraking asteroids in Kerbin's atmosphere. Rthsom's right: while asteroids look like space rocks, they're actually made of styrofoam, and no amount of torque could keep my space tug from flipping around engine-first as soon as it hit atmo.

Your spacecraft will act as a heat shield for your asteroid, unfortunately.

http://i.imgur.com/FVJPfHpl.jpg

Hmmm... maybe try an E-Class with a low-profile ship?

EDIT: Add fins!!

Edited May 17, 2015 by Laythe Dweller

[magnemoe]

You might try tissue paper, it's easier to carry around.

Fun note, in fallout 3 everything was bullet prof you could use pices of cardboard as shield against lasers, assault rifles and gatling guns.

[marko dash]

and decapitate super mutants with hi velocity teddy bears.

but back on topic, is it possible in-game to use your exhaust as a shield? IIRC it works IRL, almost like digging a tunnel through the atmosphere.

[Mandelbrot]

...but back on topic, is it possible in-game to use your exhaust as a shield? IIRC it works IRL, almost like digging a tunnel through the atmosphere.

This is new to me, sounds neat. Has anyone heard of this / know what it's termed / know if it makes sense?

[martinborgen]

I'd be suprised if it worked like that in game, but engines have worked as heatshields for me before. Their heat tolerance is pretty good.

[bogpad]

ok, so I am a total noob when it comes to the sciency stuff behind KSP, but on one of my last flights, I had some spare fuel while returning to kerbin, and when my ship started turning into a fireball, I thought to myself "Why not burn the fuel while reentering", and it did indeed help. While my engine was running, the flames got almost to a non existing state, when I throttled down, they came back, so I guess you can say that your rockets exhaust can be used to reduce the heat on reentering atmosphere.

[Temeter]

and decapitate super mutants with hi velocity teddy bears.

but back on topic, is it possible in-game to use your exhaust as a shield? IIRC it works IRL, almost like digging a tunnel through the atmosphere.

You mean something along the lines of supercavitation? Don't think so, engines don't affect aero.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Supercavitation

[Stargate525]

Well, if your ship flips, we clearly need moar boosters asteroids!

One on the front for your shield, three in back as a dragchute.

[impwarhamer]

While my engine was running, the flames got almost to a non existing state, when I throttled down, they came back,

I imagine that by using the engine to slow yourself down, you would be moving slower so reducing the amount of heating on the craft. IDK if it works irl, but I doubt using exhaust as a heat shield is modelled in ksp.

[bogpad]

I imagine that by using the engine to slow yourself down, you would be moving slower so reducing the amount of heating on the craft. IDK if it works irl, but I doubt using exhaust as a heat shield is modelled in ksp.

you are propably right with this, sadly, I didn't pay too much attention to the speed. Well, if the situation occures again, I'll make sure to take notes of my speed and try it again, but yes, I guess we can be relatively sure that this is not implemented into the game.

[iVG]

You don't need an aerobrake around Jool with a grand tour ship. I've already landed on tylo and laythe on my play through today and jool capture cost me 15 m/s delta V using Laythe gravity assist. I wouldn't even go close to Jool's atmosphere with 400+ tonne ship