Advances in the emerging field of nanophase thermal and structural composite materials are expected to revolutionize the capabilities of all future NASA robotics and exploration missions to the moon and Mars. This carbon nanotube-polymer composite is a lightweight, very strong thermal protection material. The simulation codes that resulted in images like this one were computed on the 10,240-processor supercomputer, Columbia. Scientists are using Columbia to discover and design more carbon nanotube-polymer materials.