what protective layer surrounds a rocket to protect it from intense heat

The protective layer that surrounds a rocket to protect it from the intense heat generated during re-entry into Earths atmosphere is called a heat shield. The heat shield is a barrier attached to the leading edge of the spacecraft that is designed to burn away and dissipate the heat. It is made of a material that is porous, with volume and free space, which reduces heat conduction. When it burns, it gives off a gas that pushes out the hot air thats coming in and insulates the spacecraft as it goes into the atmosphere. The heat shield is a reentry vehicles primary defense against the intense heat experienced as it falls through the atmosphere.