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Completed TRL 5 (started at 3, targeting 5)
The ADEPT project is a new, advanced heatshield design to protect payloads and landers delivered to planetary bodies with atmospheres. ADEPT is a mechanically deployable heatshield, like an umbrella, that can open up at planet arrival to diameters 2-5 times greater than current rigid heatshields. This large size overcomes the current limitations of NASA's heatshields to enable delivery of 10s of metric tons to Mars' surface - essential for human exploration.
ADEPT has been identified as a leading candidate for EDL architectures for Human Mars Exploration, ADEPT has potential as secondary payloads for Discovery and NF missions to Venus, Titan, and Mars. ADEPT is an enabling technology for delivery of 10s metric ton payloads to the surface of Mars NASA Unfunded: ADEPT has the potential with it low ballistic coefficient design to enable total global access to Mars surface not possible with current EDL technology. ADEPT has potential as secondary payloads for Discovery and NF missions to Venus, Titan, and Mars. ADEPT is an enabling technology for delivery of 10s metric ton payloads to the surface of Mars OGA: ADEPT team has had technical interchange meetings with other government agencies that are exploring the deployables for materials testing and sensors from LEO entry. Commercial: Strong potential for sample return from ISS and LEO with 'on demand' capability Nation: ADEPT supports missions to high priority destinations identified in recent decadal surveys. The stowable ADEPT can enable multiple entry vehicles packaged in the same volume as a rigid aeroshell
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