UPper STAge Recovery (UPSTAR-ACO)

The UPper STage Recovery (UPSTAR) system is a deployable aerodynamic decelerator built into the fairing of a launch vehicle upper stage, enabling the recovery and reuse of the majority of that stage, including the payload if desired. The fairing initially encloses the upper stage and payload, then for reentry splits into "petals" and deploys radially, supporting a lightweight ceramic fabric decelerator. Unique design features of UPSTAR minimize the mass and performance impact of adding recovery capability to an upper stage. The fairing structure shields the stage itself from aerodynamic and heating loads on both ascent and descent, allowing a very lightweight tank design. Dual use of the fairing structure as support for the ceramic fabric minimizes added mass for the decelerator.

Objectives of this technology include significant reduction of launch costs through nearly full reusability, and enabling a new mission class through recovery and reflight of high-value payloads (without requiring individual recovery systems). The work proposed under this collaborative opportunity will advance the technical maturity of the UPSTAR concept by anchoring our CFD analysis with surface heating results measured in a NASA Langley Research Center (LaRC) Mach 10 wind tunnel.

Significant reduction of launch costs through nearly full reusability, and enabling a new mission class through recovery and reflight of high-value payloads without requiring individual recovery systems.This system enables the recovery and reuse of most of the the vehicle’s upper stage, including the payload itself. As a result of the UPSTAR system there was a reduction of mass while at the same time providing a recovery capability to the upper stage.This was done by using a fairing structure that shields the stage itself from aerodynamic and heating loads on both ascent and descent and allows for a tank with reduced mass.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 5) — the most realistic path in is NASA SBIR/STTR, which funds small businesses and research institutions to develop technology aligned with NASA's needs (equity-free, phased funding). Check whether a current SBIR/STTR solicitation topic overlaps with this project's technology area, or contact the project directly (above) to ask.

None of these are guaranteed paths for this specific project — TechPort itself doesn't have an "apply" button. Reaching out to the contact(s) above with a specific question is usually the fastest way to find out what's actually open.