Resistive Heating

Resistive heating is a process of heating a material by passing an electric current through it. In space and astronautical engineering, resistive heating is commonly used to heat spacecraft components, such as thrusters, to prevent them from freezing in the extreme cold of space. This method of heating is also used to simulate the high temperatures that spacecraft may encounter during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Resistive heating can be achieved through the use of heating elements, such as resistive wires or films, that are placed in direct contact with the material to be heated. The amount of heat generated is proportional to the resistance of the heating element and the current passing through it. Careful control of the current and the duration of heating is necessary to prevent damage to the material being heated.
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