New materials development for suborbital flights

[Bigskyflyer]

I have checked on Xcor's web page the use of a new composite material called Nonburite and i was wondering what about others suborbital space companies such as Virgin Galactic, does anybody knows what kind of material are they using?

Thanks

 

[docm]

In SS1 they described the thermal protection used on leading edges, the nose etc., as phenolic resin added to the carbon fiber in the area plus a "trowel on" material that had to be reapplied for each flight.

Sounds like something akin to a silica based furnace cement to me, though hopefully SS2's will have better adhesion and mechanical integrity. Doesn't really need much as the temps for their flight profile don't really get that high at 600°C/1112°F.

SpaceX is using the real deal - a custom version of NASA's PICA called PICA-X.

Here's Wikipedia's article on TPS's used for atmospheric reentry Link....