Artemis 1 is the first mission to use the AVCOAT ablative blocks. Constructing blocks allows the heat shield production to take place at the same time as the Orion structure. The AVCOAT material is produced at the Michoud Assembly Facility by Lockheed Martin.
Used for the Exploration Flight Test 1 of this Orion spacecraft, the honeycomb method required injecting AVCOAT onto the heat shield. AVCOAT honeycomb heat shields were also used for the Apollo Program capsules.
Image 3: AVCOAT Ablative Tile (Exterior)
AVCOAT is an ablative material constructed in blocks and bonded onto the layers of carbon fiber skin of the heat shield. The carbon fiber skin is affixed to the shield's titanium skeleton base. Once the AVCOAT is in place, it is sealed, painted, and finished with reflective Kapton tape.
