Item: Space Shuttle HSRI tile
Size: 15.2x15.2x9x10.9x8.8x7.4 cms.

Weight: 338 gr.

Serial number: VO-070-193004 -98 -008727.

Description: This thermal protection tile comes from the estate of a Lockheed Missile and Space Company Engineer who worked on the development of the Space Shuttle Tiles for NASA. The Company went on to make the tiles for NASA. This tile has the digitized serial numbering system NASA used for placement of each tile on the shuttle. This particular tile was to be located on the mid fuselage sides and lower area. On the back side it says: "VO-070-193004 -98", "53842", "8727", "SCRAP".

Artifact: Fit Check Tile of the Space Shuttle Challenger.

Nomenclature:

VO70-391040-112
P1 099 ONLY
TY6317 4-82
H-13728 E07 14
OML

Orbiter: OV-099 Challenger

Location: forward fuselage.

Category: Thermal Protection System.

Period of use: 1982.

Manufacturer: Rockwell International / NASA

NASA contract number: N/A

Spacecraft/Launch Systems: Space Shuttle

Dimensions: 15.1 x 29.8, x 8.5 cm

Weight: 696 g.

Program: Space Shuttle

Flown status: unflown.

Description: Fit Check Tiles were used on the Space Shuttle Orbiter bodies to verify the fit before the actual tiles were fabricated and installed. Each Orbiter is covered with approxim ately 24,000 silica fiber compound tiles and they are all essentially different in size and shape. Based in the information printed on the tile, this particular example would fit on Challenger. The tile originally came from the Charlie Bell collection and is displayed on a Mahogany base with a metal descriptive plaque affixed to it.

Tile serial numbers normally consist of four segments, the first three separated by dashes. In this fit check tile, three numbers appear separated by dashes:

VO70-391040-112

The first two elements of the serial number are letters 'VT' or 'VO'. The 'V' is for Vehicle, the 'O' is orbiter.

The second set of six digits is the location on the orbiter. The following diagram provides a better understanding of tiles locations:

Credit: NASA

P1 099 ONLY means that it was used only on the Challenger Orbiter.

OML: Outer Mold Line.

Sources:

Tile serial numbers (NASA)

Shuttle Tile Maps

Artifact: SpaceX Starship SN24 thermal protection tile fragments
Date of use: April 20, 2023.

Fragment 1

Dimensions: 14 x 12.2 x 3 cm.
Weight: 69 gr.

Fragment 2

Dimensions: 9 x 3.6 x 1.3 cm.

Weight: 7 gr.

Flown Status: flown.

Description:

2 fragments of the thermal protection tiles used during the launch test of SpaceX Starship SN4 on April 20, 2023. They were found on Playa del Sol, also know as Barra del Tordo in Mexico on May 15, 2023.

The shape of the hex tiles used for ther thermal protection system offers no straight path for hot gas to accelerate through the gaps.

Above: Fragments location within the shape of a hex tile.

Hex tiles on Starship in 2021. Credit: Austin Barnard.

Above: Playa del Sol, where the tile fragments where found. Credit: Ronhardrock468.

Item: Space Shuttle LRSI white tile

Size: 14.9 x 15 x 5.1 cms.

Weight: 184 gr.

Serial number: N/A.

Description: This thermal protection tile comes from the estate of a Lockheed Missile and Space Company Engineer who worked on the development of the Space Shuttle Tiles for NASA. The Company went on to make the tiles for NASA. On the back side it says: "639551 T03-8002", "MFI", "DUMMY".