The proposed technology is directly relevant to NASA's ADEPT program, and partially relevant to NASA's HIAD and HEEET programs. 3D polar woven deployable skirts enabled by the proposed technology have near term potential (5-years) for retrieval of small satellites from around Earth orbit and delivery of small science payloads to Mars and Venus. Longer term potential exists for larger payloads and human Mars missions. TEAM would intend to pursue insertion of the developed technology into specific NASA missions by coordinating our efforts with the NASA technical and management personnel on the above referenced programs.
Outside of NASA applications, the technology is applicable to weaving of net-shape hypersonic aeroshell structures for defense applications, and for improvement of fiber orientation and mechanical homogeneity in current (non-polar) 3D woven composite mortar baseplates. TEAM would intend to pursue insertion of the technology via our existing contacts in the DoD community (both government and prime contractors) with whom we have current working relationships and ongoing programs / contracts in 3D woven hypersonic material development. The technology may also have application in commercial aerospace applications such as C-C disk brakes.
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