Game Changing Development
Heat Shield for Extreme Entry Environment Technology (HEEET)
Project Introduction
HEEET is developing an efficient and innovative Thermal Protection System that can protect science payloads during entry where the heating is 2 orders of magnitude higher than for Space Shuttle or Mars missions. The ablative thermal protection system as already been recommended for use by SMD in Discovery AO and will enable missions to Saturn, Venus and the Outer Planets.
More »
Anticipated Benefits
NASA funded: HEEET has the potential to result in 30 40% heatshield mass reduction, compared to CP for extreme entry environment missions HEEET can enable entry trajectories that are currently not practical with a CP heat shield HEEET is being developed with long term sustainability in mind, trying to avoid current challenges with CP
More »
Primary U.S. Work Locations and Key Partners
| Organizations Performing Work | Role | Type | Location |
|---|---|---|---|
Ames Research Center
(ARC)
|
Lead Organization | NASA Center | Moffett Field, CA |
| Applied Aerospace Structures Corporation | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
| Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) | Supporting Organization | Industry | |
| Fiber Materials, Inc. | Supporting Organization | Industry | Biddeford, ME |
Johnson Space Center
(JSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Houston, TX |
|
Kennedy Space Center
(KSC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Kennedy Space Center, FL |
|
Langley Research Center
(LaRC)
|
Supporting Organization | NASA Center | Hampton, VA |
Primary U.S. Work Locations
-
Alabama
-
California
-
Maine
-
Ohio
-
Pennsylvania
-
Tennessee
-
Texas
-
Virginia
Project Library
Share this Project
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:
Project Manager:
Project Duration
Start: Oct 2013
End: Sep 2018
Technology Maturity (TRL)
| Start: | 3 |
| Current: | 3 |
| Estimated End: | 6 |
Applied Research
Development
Demo & Test
Technology Areas
Primary:
- TA 9 Entry, Descent, and Landing Systems
- TA 9.1 Aeroassist and Atmospheric Entry
- TA 9.1.1 Thermal Protection Systems for Rigid Decelerators
Other / Cross-cutting:
- TA 9 Entry, Descent, and Landing Systems
- TA 9.1 Aeroassist and Atmospheric Entry
- TA 9.1.4 Deployable Hypersonic Decelerators
- TA 14 Thermal Management Systems
- TA 14.3 Thermal Protection Systems
- TA 14.3.1 Ascent/Entry TPS
Target Destinations
Mars, Others Inside the Solar System