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Cork Takes the Heat So DRACO’s Data Can Survive
spacenews.com Nov 5, 2026

Cork Takes the Heat So DRACO’s Data Can Survive

Curated by · TechCapsules ·

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

Amorim Cork Solutions will supply its P50 cork‑based ablative material for the heat shield of the European Space Agency’s DRACO mission, slated for a 2027 launch. DRACO – Destructive Reentry Assessment Container Object – will deliberately reenter Earth’s atmosphere, break apart, and record the breakup with roughly 200 sensors and four cameras. A 40 cm survival capsule, protected by the P50 shield, must endure the extreme thermal and mechanical loads long enough to preserve and transmit the most valuable data. The von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics selected P50 after half‑scale plasma‑flow tests validated its performance. The mission aims to improve re‑entry models and support ESA’s Design for Demise and Zero Debris initiatives. The collaboration builds on years of research between Amorim and VKI.

💡 Why It Matters

  • · By proving cork‑based ablatives can survive intentional destruction, DRACO gives engineers a reusable, low‑cost path to validate debris‑mitigation designs.
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