Perfecting the Heat Shield for Reentry: The Jupiter-C Nosecone
Presented Online
Sixty years ago in 1958, the U.S. Army tested the first ablative heat shields by launching reentry vehicles with the same rocket that put the first U.S. satellite into orbit. In this week's Ask an Expert on Facebook Live, join space history curator Michael Neufeld as he discusses the Jupiter-C nosecone and its implications for bringing both nuclear warheads and people back through the atmosphere.
Tune in on our Facebook page.
Every Wednesday at 12:30 p.m. we will go live on the National Air and Space Museum Facebook page with an Ask an Expert talk. We’ll select a different aviation or space topic each week, and a Museum staff member will discuss the history, stories, or personalities related to a specific artifact or exhibition in the Museum. Tune in on Facebook Live each week to join the talk and ask our experts questions.
How to attend
We rely on the generous support of donors, sponsors, members, and other benefactors to share the history and impact of aviation and spaceflight, educate the public, and inspire future generations. With your help, we can continue to preserve and safeguard the world’s most comprehensive collection of artifacts representing the great achievements of flight and space exploration.