SpaceX Starship heat shield
Definition
A sophisticated thermal protection system consisting of thousands of hexagonal ceramic tiles attached to the exterior of the SpaceX Starship spacecraft.
The critical exterior layer designed to endure the extreme temperatures of atmospheric reentry, preventing the vehicle from melting or structurally failing during its descent through the atmosphere.
Examples
The SpaceX Starship heat shield tiles have more personality than my last three dates combined, mostly because they are constantly falling off.
Watching a SpaceX Starship heat shield tile perform its high-speed departure from the hull is essentially the most expensive version of watching a piece of toast fall butter-side down.
Securing those heat shield hex-tiles is the kind of job that really tests the structural integrity of your patience and your adhesive supplier's reputation.