“The Entry Systems Modeling technology development project helps mature aerosciences and materials products for entry, descent and landing technologies.”
Because spacecraft become extremely hot during planetary entry, the Entry Systems Modeling (ESM) project is exploring and developing new methods of protection. Having the capability to predict heat extremes during entry mitigates mission risk, and these predictions are made using complex codes that are validated against test data. As computer codes get better, uncertainty in predictions is reduced.
Coupled with greater accuracy in heat predictions, research and advancements in development of thermal protection capabilities are being employed to manufacture materials with increased heat resistance. These promising materials are passed to other projects to be turned into heat shields that improve reliability – or even enable new NASA missions as spacecraft become safer and lighter.
| Principal Technologist: | Program Manager: |
|---|---|
| Michelle Munk (michelle.m.munk@nasa.gov) | Mike Wright (michael.j.wright@nasa.gov) |
NASA Parachute Device Could Return Small Spacecraft from Deep Space Missions
NASA EDGE: Game Changing Entry, Descent and Landing Part 1
NASA EDGE: Game Changing Entry, Descent and Landing Part 2
