NASA's Thermal Control & Protection Team Provides Vital Technical Expertise

The NESC's Thermal Control & Protection Technical Discipline Team supports key agency projects and enhances the thermal engineering community.

Mar. 11, 2026 at 3:18am

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NASA's Thermal Control & Protection Technical Discipline Team (TDT) is a valuable resource providing subject matter expertise in active and passive thermal control, as well as ascent and entry thermal protection, across the agency's diverse needs. The TDT has supported critical projects like the Artemis I heat shield investigation, assessed thermal control fluid replacements, and provided guidance to programs like Commercial Crew and the Dragonfly mission to Titan.

Why it matters

The TDT plays a crucial role in maintaining and advancing NASA's thermal engineering capabilities, which are essential for the success of complex space missions. By training the next generation of thermal engineers, leading technical workshops, and providing expert analysis, the TDT helps ensure the agency's thermal systems are robust and reliable.

The details

The TDT welcomed two new early-career engineers for a one-year rotation to help train the next generation of thermal experts. These rotational engineers are responsible for the TDT's annual State of the Discipline presentation, which assesses the overall health and needs of the thermal control and thermal protection disciplines. The TDT also developed a lesson on thermal louvers for inclusion in the NESC Academy and continued to co-sponsor the Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS), a longstanding NASA-owned event that provides training and encourages knowledge sharing across the thermal and fluids engineering community.

  • The TDT welcomed two new early-career engineers for a one-year rotation in 2026.
  • The Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS) was held in 2026.

The players

NESC's Thermal Control & Protection Technical Discipline Team (TDT)

A resource providing subject matter expertise in active and passive thermal control as well as ascent and entry thermal protection across the spectrum of agency needs.

Artemis I

An ongoing investigation into heat shield char loss.

Dragonfly

A mission to Titan, for which the TDT provided thermal design expertise.

Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope

A program for which the TDT provided expertise to the Standing Review Board.

Thermal and Fluids Analysis Workshop (TFAWS)

An annual, longstanding NASA-owned event that provides training and encourages knowledge sharing, professional development, and networking throughout the NASA thermal and fluids engineering community and the aerospace community at large.

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The takeaway

NASA's Thermal Control & Protection Technical Discipline Team plays a vital role in supporting the agency's diverse thermal engineering needs, from critical space missions to training the next generation of experts. By providing subject matter expertise, leading technical workshops, and enhancing the broader thermal engineering community, the TDT helps ensure NASA's thermal systems remain robust and reliable.