Inflatable re-entry technologies - Flight demonstration and future prospects

In cooperation with Astrium-I (formerly DASA), NPO Lavochkin, and the European Commission, ESA has developed and launched a capsule that reentered the Earth's atmosphere protected by an inflatable heat shield. During the same mission, the newly developed Russian Fregat upper stage was also returned to Earth using the same technology. The last phase of the descent in both cases was performed with no parachute, allowing substantial savings in launch volume and mass. Obvious future applications for this new reentry technology include International Space Station sample return, the delivery of networks of small stations to the Martian surface, and the return to Earth of launcher upper stages. (Author)