← Back to NASA Technology Projects
Completed TRL 5 (started at 2, targeting 5)
ESM past investment has produced a thermal response model for PICA that is essentially ready for mission infusion. However, the PICA-based Mars 2020 heat shield, including the MEDLI2 plugs, will also be coated with a silicone-based coating called NuSil CV-1144-0 (RTV Silicone Protective Oxygen Overcoat). This application fundamentally changes the material properties of the PICA material. The existing high-fidelity PICA model must be extended to account for the thermal and chemical effects of the NuSil coating to enable an accurate reconstruction of both MSL and Mars 2020 heating environments. This investment is critical not only to fully recover the Agency investment in the MEDLI and MEDLI2 datasets, but also to enable models for future flight applications of PICA or analogous carbon/phenolic systems such as HEEET.
Enables MSL and Mars 2020 flight data reconstruction with required accuracy.
Listed on TechPort itself — the most direct way to ask about this specific project.
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.