NASA’s ADEPT umbrella-like aerobrake adapted for Blue Origin Moon and Mars cargo

NASA’s ADEPT (Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology), an umbrella-like deployable entry system developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center, is being adapted to serve as an aerobrake to slow spacecraft for future Blue Origin lunar and Martian cargo deliveries as well as Earth-return applications, the agency says.

ADEPT is a semi-rigid aeroshell that opens to slow a vehicle during atmospheric entry or to perform aerocapture. The system can be stored compactly and is lighter than rigid aeroshells, which the agency says can reduce launch fuel needs and free up space for other payloads. The canopy is a 3D woven, flexible carbon fabric that acts as both heat shield and aerodynamic surface.

Developed with Bally Ribbon Mills, the material is designed to protect a vehicle during atmospheric entry where temperatures can reach up to 4,500 degrees Fahrenheit; BRM later developed a seamless version called Spiderweave. NASA supported BRM’s work through its SBIR and Game Changing Development programs.

NASA’s Flight Opportunities program supported a Sept. 12, 2018, test in which ADEPT launched folded on a UP Aerospace sounding rocket from Spaceport America, separated and unfolded about 60 miles above Earth, and maintained stable flight in supersonic conditions. That low-cost flight test matured the roughly 1-meter (about 3-foot) system and provided data used to improve the design for anticipated low Earth orbit re-entry CubeSat and other small-satellite missions.

adept, nasa ames research center, blue origin lunar cargo, blue origin martian cargo, umbrella-like deployable entry system, semi-rigid aeroshell, aerobrake for spacecraft, aerocapture maneuvers, 3d woven carbon fabric, spiderweave seamless fabric, bally ribbon mills, sbir program support, game changing development program, flight opportunities program, up aerospace sounding rocket, spaceport america launch, 2018 adept flight test, cubesat re-entry applications, small-satellite missions, foldable heat shield, adept patent license, earth-return applications, reduce launch fuel needs, space technology mission directorate