Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) (TPS-STUDY)

For FY25 there are 3 discrete elements of work to be performed under the TPS Portfolio study.  The primary element is to produce an investment strategy, roadmap, and customer engagement/transition plan for NASA investments into TPS material developments that best support Science, Human Exploration, and commercial entities for FY26-31. These products shall be delivered to the Deceleration Systems Capability and the Land Domain leadership. A draft strategy with technology objectives and a cost phasing plan shall be delivered in support of PPBE27. The secondary element is to produce a white paper study on “Alternative TPS Options for Orion”. This effort supports near-term Human Exploration objectives within NASA. This is a separate effort from the NESC work regarding investigation of the Avcoat Char Loss during Orion 1 re-entry. This effort seeks to identify potential TPS alternates to the Block Avcoat should NASA opt to switch the TPS for future missions, i.e. AR3 and beyond. This report shall be delivered to the Deceleration Systems Capability, Land Domain. The third element is to produce a test/development strategy for a Scalable/Tiled Conformal PICA TPS heatshield that can support Aerocapture, Moon to Mars and High-Speed Earth Return for aeroshells > 1.5m diameter. While Tiled Conformal-PICA has been flight demonstrated (VARDA) for heat fluxes < 200 W/cm2, aerocapture missions, Moon-to-Mars architecture, and high-speed sample return may require an aeroshell capable of ~1500 W/cm2 and 1.3 atm. Therefore, a C-PICA system with gaps/seams requires a solution proven to higher conditions. The Scalable/Tiled C-PICA development strategy shall be delivered to the Deceleration Systems Capability and the Land Domain leadership. A draft strategy with cost phasing plan shall be delivered in support of PPBE27.

​The benefits of this task are that the elements support current Human Space Flight work at NASA while also working to produce an investment strategy, roadmap, and customer engagement/transition plan for NASA investments into TPS material developments that best support fututure Science, Human Exploration, and commercial entities for FY26-31.​​ These elements are needed for Earth to Moon, Earth to Mars, Moon to Mars as well as sample return from Moon, Mars or other bodies in the solar system. Elements of this task also acknowledge the growing commercial space sector and NASA's need to support Research and Development for the benefit of industry as well as the need to increase and foster flight opportunities that will help advance the various Entry Descent and Landing technolologies that NASA and/or industry will need to utilize to accomplish the goals of the emerging space manufacturing industry, the scientific community, as well as the Nation's ambitious plans to put Am​​erican boots on the Moon and Mars in the next decade.

This is early/mid-stage (TRL 4) — 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.