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Flexible Transpiration Cooled Thermal Protection System for Inflatable Atmospheric Capture and Entry Systems

Award Information
Agency: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Branch: N/A
Contract: NND06AA33C
Agency Tracking Number: 054039
Amount: $69,480.00
Phase: Phase I
Program: SBIR
Solicitation Topic Code: X7.04
Solicitation Number: N/A
Timeline
Solicitation Year: 2005
Award Year: 2006
Award Start Date (Proposal Award Date): 2006-01-20
Award End Date (Contract End Date): 2006-07-24
Small Business Information
505 5th Ave South, Suite 300
Seattle, WA 98104-3894
United States
DUNS: 092968127
HUBZone Owned: No
Woman Owned: Yes
Socially and Economically Disadvantaged: Yes
Principal Investigator
 Dana Andrews
 Principal Investigator
 (206) 438-0630
 dandrews@andrews-space.com
Business Contact
 Chris Hoeft
Title: Business Official
Phone: (206) 438-0602
Email: choeft@andrews-space.com
Research Institution
N/A
Abstract

Andrews Space, Inc. proposes an innovative transpiration cooled aerobrake TPS design that is thermally protective, structurally flexible, and lightweight. This innovative design will also meet launch volume constraints and satisfy terminal aerobraking requirements. The approach will focus on transpiration cooling of a flexible material and will consider ablative and insulative technologies as key features of the TPS design. The application of aerobraking to reduce velocity for planetary capture and landing has long been assumed for use on Mars missions and has been suggested for Earth reentry. The major hurdle to inflatable aerobrakes becoming reality is the development of a lightweight and structurally flexible Thermal Protection System (TPS). By combining well understood insulative and ablative TPS with an innovative flexible transpiration cooled TPS, a realizable inflatable aerobrake system can be developed.

* Information listed above is at the time of submission. *

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