NASA Offering Inflatable Heat Shield For SmallSats
NASA is making its inflatable heat shield technology available for use by commercial SmallSat operators. This initiative aims to provide smaller spacecraft with the thermal protection necessary to survive atmospheric reentry.
Why it matters
This technology lowers the barrier to entry for small satellite missions, enabling more complex orbital research and data return capabilities for the growing commercial space sector.
Irene Klotz is Senior Space Editor for Aviation Week, based in Cape Canaveral. Before joining Aviation Week in 2017, Irene spent 25 years as a wire service reporter covering human and robotic spaceflight, commercial space, astronomy, science and technology for Reuters and United Press International.
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