Mars Entry and Earth Rrturn Re-Entry Drag Brake Decelerators

Blazetech Corporation is pleased to submit this Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) proposal to the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) to develop an innovative decelerator concept with application to Mars Entry and Earth Return Entry (Earth-Mars Decelerator). The Earth-Mars Decelerator has its foundation with the Drag Brake concept as an alternative approach to safely returning astronauts from orbit. There are three important innovative features of the Drag Brake that distinguish its benefits. First, the use of a large umbrella-like shape forces vehicle slowdown at the higher atmospheric altitudes essentially reducing the heating rate so much that it eliminates the need for a heavy thermal protection system. Second, the ability to modulate the lift and drag behavior by reorienting the drag brake at the lower altitudes permits more precise landing locations and slower landing speeds. Third, carbon-based material choices and structural designs (as opposed to stainless steel materials) provide lighter and stronger decelerators with appropriate surface emissivity and anti-oxidative coatings. In addition to these three features, the new Drag Brake concept also has the following additional beneficial characteristics. Flexible Decelerator has never demonstrated in re-entry flight. This is a unique program goal. Blunt shape aerodynamically stable through entire re-entry flight regime. The technical approach accommodates secondary deceleration (inflatables, parachutes), if necessary.