Imagine a giant, heat-resistant balloon that unfolds in space to slow down a spacecraft as it hits the atmosphere. Instead of using heavy, rigid plates, this flexible shield protects the vehicle from burning up during re-entry. It acts like a parachute that can withstand extreme heat, allowing expensive equipment to land safely and be used again.
Current space re-entry systems are often rigid, heavy, and disposable, leading to high costs and increased space debris. There is a need for lightweight, flexible protection to enable the reuse of expensive launcher stages.
A business case analysis and a ground test campaign for Inflatable Heat Shields (IHS) to reach TRL 5-6.
If you are a launcher manufacturer dealing with the high cost of disposable hardware — this project developed Inflatable Heat Shields that enable the recovery and reuse of launcher stages. This reduces the need to build new hardware for every mission.
If you are a satellite operator dealing with expensive end-of-life disposal — this project developed a flexible TPS that can replace chemical propulsion for de-orbiting. This helps reduce the environmental impact of space debris.
If you are a cargo provider dealing with the loss of expensive transport containers — this project developed a recovery system for ISS Cargo and its payloads. This allows for the safe return of valuable materials to Earth.
Based on available project data, specific pricing or cost figures are not provided; however, the project focused on a business case analysis to identify the most promising applications for cost-efficiency.
The project aimed to mature technologies up to TRL 5-6 through ground tests, indicating a transition from laboratory prototypes toward industrial validation.
Based on available project data, there is no specific mention of licensing terms or patent filings in the provided summary.
The project ran from 2022-11-01 to 2024-10-31 to prepare the technology for future in-orbit demonstrations.
The technology is designed as a flexible heat shield that can be integrated into the entry and descent systems of launchers to enable stage recovery.
The consortium is highly industry-oriented with a 50% industry ratio, comprising 4 industrial partners and 1 SME. This balance, combined with 3 research entities and 1 university across 5 European countries, suggests a strong focus on commercial viability and practical application rather than pure academic research.
Contact DEIMOS ENGINEERING AND SYSTEMS SLU in Spain
Contact us to explore licensing opportunities for inflatable TPS technology.
