High-Performance Thermal Insulation for a Racing Car

Thermal-insulation blankets developed for use aboard the space shuttle can be adapted to a racing car to protect the driver against excessive cockpit heating. [Also see an earlier article under "Mission Accomplished," NASA Tech Briefs, Vol. 20, No. 8 (August 1996) page 20.] Thermal protection for the driver is necessary because, unlike the passenger compartment of a conventional automobile, the cockpit of a racing car is subject to intense heating as a result of unique racing-design features.