FOR EXPLORATION OF PLANETS AND MOONS WITH SENSIBLE ATMOSPHERES AND FOR THE RETURN OF CREW AND CARGO FROM SPACE TO THE EARTH HYPERSONIC ENTRY SYSTEMS ARE EMPLOYED TO PROTECT THE PAYLOADS FROM THE INTENSE HEATING ENVIRONMENTS. A COMMON APPROACH FOR THE THERMAL PROTECTION SYSTEM (TPS) OF ENTRY VEHICLES IS TO USE AN ABLATING MATERIAL THAT CARRIES ENERGY AWAY FROM THE SURFACE AND PROVIDES A BUFFER AGAINST THE HOT EXTERNAL GASES. ONE CHALLENGE WITH ABLATING TPS IS THE FACT THAT

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