The proposed advanced ablative TPS preform material would support commercial space applications including Commercial Orbital Transportation Services (COTS). During 2008, NASA entered into contracts with Orbital Sciences and SpaceX to utilize their COTS cargo vehicles, Cygnus and Dragon, respectively, for cargo delivery to the International Space Station (ISS). In addition, FMI small return vehicles such as the Re-Entry Break-Up Recorder would benefit from improvements in preform material. The Stardust Sample Return Capsule completed its objective with earth re-entry in January of 2006. The Mars Science Laboratory Aeroshell heat shield has been completed, and delivery of the Curiosity rover to Mars is scheduled for 2015. With the successful fabrication of these PICA TPS heat shields in support of NASA flight missions, FMI has quoted and is prepared to continue supporting PICA heat shield missions. The advancements in the development of the preform material proposed in this program will support future NASA missions, including New Frontiers Sample Return Capsules, which are proposed to utilize a Stardust-like heat shield.
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