A thermal protection system for atmospheric entry of a vehicle, the system
including a honeycomb structure with selected cross sectional shapes that
receives and holds thermally cured thermal protection (TP) blocks that
have corresponding cross sectional shapes. Material composition for TP
blocks in different locations can be varied to account for different
atmospheric heating characteristics at the different locations. TP block
side walls may be attached to all, or to less than all, the corresponding
honeycomb structure side walls.