Assembly of the SHEFEX II vehicle
Assembly of the SHEFEX II vehicle
DLR has been working on the SHEFEX programme for 10 years, developing a technology in which a spacecraft can re-enter the atmosphere and land without suffering damage. SHEFEX is angular and sharp-edged; its structure consists of planar surfaces, which are easier to manufacture and are thus less expensive than the usual rounded shapes. The sharp edges are also aerodynamically advantageous. DLR researchers have developed various thermal protection systems to control the high temperatures that the edges are subjected to during re-entry. The Stuttgart DLR-Institute for Structures and Design plays a leading role in the SHEFEX-project.
