NASA determined that gases generated inside the heat shield's Avcoat material could not vent and dissipate as expected, leading to pressure buildup and cracking.
To understand the cause of damage to the first Orion flight, NASA conducted over 100 tests at different US facilities and provided 200 Avcoat samples for analysis.
NASA announced new target launch dates for Artemis II and Artemis III as a response to the issues found, providing time to address environmental control systems.
The Avcoat material, developed in the 1960s, is crucial for protecting Orion from extreme re-entry temperatures, and its proper functioning is essential for crew safety.
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