NASA EPSCoR R3 Appendix A (SMD): Material response of woven heat shield material in Venusian atmosphere

Kentucky’s NASA EPSCoR jurisdiction solicited proposals from university-led research teams in Kentucky to address NASA research needs listed as tasks for the FY2021 NASA EPSCoR Rapid Response Research (R3) announcement (NNH21ZHA002C). The NASA Kentucky EPSCoR program collaborated with responding faculty researchers to develop and submit relevant proposals that address R3 task objectives. The proposed work addresses problems listed in the solicitation under Appendix A: NASA SMD Planetary Division, Extreme Environments Applicable to Venus, Io, Earth volcanoes. and deep sea vents.

The proposed work will build on previous work supported under the R3 program and shift focus to the development of reliable gas-surface interaction models for Venus atmospheric entry. The model development will be specifically designed for Thermal Protection Systems made of woven carbon preform. The effect of the TPS structure with the high-pressure high-temperature effects of the atmosphere will be studied, including the effects of radiation penetration, due to the expected presence of CN gas in the post-shock region.

This is a mature technology (TRL 7+) — the realistic path in is usually NASA's Technology Transfer Program: licensing an existing NASA patent, or a Space Act Agreement to use NASA facilities/expertise directly. NASA also runs a startup licensing program with no upfront fee for companies formed to commercialize a specific NASA technology.

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