aeroshell

noun

aero·​shell ¦er-ō-¦shel 

plural aeroshells

: heat shield

One such system, the Viking-era 70° sphere cone aeroshell, has been used on every U.S. mission to the surface of Mars.

—Donald Rapp, Human Missions to Mars, 2007

Word History

Etymology

aero- + shell entry 1

First Known Use

1966, in the meaning defined above

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