Game Changing Development
Adaptive Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT)
Project Introduction
The ADEPT project is a new, advanced heat shield design to protect payloads and landers delivered to planetary bodies with atmospheres. ADEPT is a mechanically deployable heatshield, like an umbrella, that can open up at planet arrival to diameters 2-5 times greater than current rigid heatshields. This large size overcomes the current limitations of NASA's heatshields to enable delivery of 10s of metric tons to Mars' surface - essential for human exploration.
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Anticipated Benefits
NASA unfunded: Low ballistic mechanically deployable enables nanoSat (~5kg) SMD missions with EDL secondary payload packaging constraints. ADEPT at 2-5m scale with lifting capability can enable Titan aerocapture, Venus missions, and potential OP missions for SMD. Strong potential enabler for 20mT Mars Exploration EDL at large (>15m) scale.
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Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Ames Research Center
(ARC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Moffett Field, California |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Alabama
-
California
-
Maryland
-
Minnesota
-
Pennsylvania
-
Texas
-
Virginia
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Organizational Responsibility
Responsible Mission Directorate:
- Space Technology Mission Directorate (STMD)
Lead Center / Facility:
- Ames Research Center (ARC)
Responsible Program:
- Game Changing Development
Project Management
Program Director:
Program Manager:
Principal Investigator:
Project Duration
Start: Oct 2014
End: Sep 2016
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 3 |
| Current: | 6 |
| Estimated End: | 6 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Target Destinations
Mars, Others Inside the Solar System
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