 
Low-Mass
Aeroshell
Space
Reentry
Vehicle
Future
planetary
exploration
missions
will
require
innovative
solutions
to
decelerate
space
vehicles
upon
atmospheric
entry.
These
vehicles
will
need
protection
from
extreme
reentry
heating
conditions
without
increasing
system
weight
or
energy
consumption.
New
aerobraking
systems
must
provide
additional
surface
area
for
deceleration
without
adding
to
vehicle
weight
or
stowed
volume.
NASA’s
In-Space
Propulsion
Technology
Program
is
funding
CRG
to
develop
a
low-mass
deployable
aeroshell
deployment
mechanism
activated
by
a
unique
shape
memory
polymer
(SMP)
called
Veriflex®.
In
CRG’s
design,
a
large
surface
area,
SMP-activated
aeroshell
will
stow
in
a
highly
compact
pre-launch
configuration
and
later
self-deploy
to
its
operating
configuration
and
lock
in
place
prior
to
atmospheric
entry.
The
low-mass
deployable
aeroshell
decelerator
deploys
with
a
hinge
activated
by
SMP.
Shape
Memory
Technology
This
vehicle
reentry
innovation
is
possible
through
shape
memory
technology.
In
CRG’s
design,
the
SMP
actuator
will
deploy
the
aeroshell
extension
during
transit
through
deep
space,
well
before
entering
the
atmosphere.
Once
deployed,
the
aeroshell
extension
will
lock
in
place
for
atmospheric
entry.
CRG
has
been
demonstrating
the
utility
of
Veriflex
in
a
wide
range
of
advanced
technological
systems,
including
morphing
aircraft,
deployable
space
structures,
and
“smart”
tooling
for
composite
part
manufacturing.
CRG’s
expertise
in
tailoring
the
characteristics
of
shape
memory
polymers
allows
the
engineering
of
these
materials
to
meet
various
environmental
and
system
performance
requirements.
As
NASA
and
commercial
space
activities
grow,
so
will
the
need
to
find
reliable
methods
of
vehicle
reentry.
SMP-hinged
deployable
space
structures
offer
a
low-mass,
low-energy
means
of
decelerating
mission
payloads
safely
to
planetary
surfaces.
Benefits:
•
Low-energy
actuation
•
Precision
deployment
•
Increased
aeroshell
surface
area
for
improved
braking
•
Low
system
weight
penalty
•
Reduced
design
and
fabrication
complexity
•
Compatibility
with
current
thermal
protection
materials
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