50 MW Arc-Heated Hypersonic Re-Entry Plasma Tunnel Model

Underwrite 50 MW segmented constricted DC arc-jet plasma tunnels heating air to 5,000 Kelvin at 20 MJ/kg enthalpy (testing spacecraft ceramic thermal protection tiles and leading edges against continuous re-entry aerothermal heating for 20 minutes). Model spacecraft heat shield qualification contracts ($28M/facility/yr), and 25-yr IRR.