Amorim P50 Selected For NASA’s Historic Artemis II Mission

As NASA advances its Artemis program toward a sustained human return to the Moon, material performance in extreme launch environments remains mission-critical. Among the technologies integrated into the Space Launch System (SLS) for Artemis II, the first crewed lunar flyby mission in more than 50 years, is Amorim TPS P50, a cork-based thermal protection material engineered for high thermal load applications.

Launched on April 1, 2026, Artemis II marks the first crewed mission of the Artemis program, carrying four astronauts on a lunar flyby and serving as a key validation step for future lunar landing missions.

Within the SLS architecture, P50 is specified for use in high thermal environment areas, where the vehicle is exposed to severe aerodynamic heating and mechanical loads during ascent. The material provides a combination of thermal insulation, ablative protection and structural shielding, helping protect critical sections of the launch vehicle.

According to NASA technical documentation, P50 cork has been installed in high thermal environment areas for Artemis II through Artemis IV, underscoring the continuity of the material across multiple missions in the program.

Cork-based thermal protection materials have historically been used in multiple aerospace applications, particularly where reliable ablative performance under high heat flux is required.

The use of cork in launch systems is not new. Natural cork-based ablative materials have a long-established role in aerospace due to their low density, thermal resistance and controlled ablation characteristics under high heat flux conditions.

Amorim’s involvement in the Artemis program follows its participation in Artemis I, launched in 2022, where cork-based TPS solutions were already integrated into the system. This continuity reflects the confidence placed in cork-derived engineered materials for demanding aerospace applications.

The company’s aerospace heritage extends much further back, with cork materials historically used across programs including Apollo, Ariane, Vega, Titan and Delta, as well as planetary exploration missions.

The continued use of cork-based thermal protection materials highlights their reliability in high thermal load applications. Their cellular structure enables a combination of low weight, thermal insulation and controlled ablation performance.

As launch systems evolve for lunar and deep-space missions, material selection is increasingly driven by the need to balance mass efficiency, thermal performance and long-term sustainability. Reducing structural weight remains a key priority to optimize payload capacity and mission economics, while materials must also withstand extreme thermal loads and mechanical stress during ascent and re-entry phases. At the same time, growing attention is being given to the environmental footprint of aerospace systems, prompting renewed interest in materials that combine high performance with more sustainable sourcing and lifecycle characteristics.

Artemis II therefore represents not only a major milestone in human spaceflight, but also another validation point for engineered natural materials in next-generation launch vehicles.

Learn more at https://amorimcorksolutions.com/en-us/materials-applications/aerospace/