Abstract <p>The use of structurally sensitive thermal protection materials with a high degree of thermal conductivity anisotropy allows for the redistribution of heat fluxes across the entire surface of the thermal protection coating. As a result, the thermal protection layers heat up significantly during descent. Often, due to mass minimization and consequently, the reduction of thermal protection thickness these layers operate at the limit of their materials' operational capabilities, both in terms of reached temperatures and the induced thermal stresses. At such temperature levels at the internal layer interfaces, besides conduction, radiative heat transfer begins to play a substantial role if any of the layers are semi-transparent. Neglecting the radiative heat flux can lead to significant inaccuracies and erroneous conclusions regarding the suitability of the thermal protection shield.</p>