NASA Awards Contract to FMI to Contribute to the Future of Deep Space Exploration
February 3, 2021 | PRNewswireEstimated reading time: 2 minutes
NASA has selected FMI, a subsidiary of Spirit AeroSystems, for a contract providing thermal protection systems (TPS) to support several emerging missions under the Science Mission Directorate: Mars Sample Return (MSR) Earth Entry Vehicle; MSR Sample Return Lander; and Dragonfly. Each of these projects require ablative TPS materials for ground testing and flight.
Mars 2020 transport/entry aeroshell, the aft-body and TPS, being “fit-up” checked. The assembled aeroshell will carry the rover vehicle thru the Mars atmosphere for landing. A Mars touchdown is scheduled for February 2021. FMI, a subsidiary of Spirit AeroSystems, fabricated the thermal protection system for the Mars 2020 transport/entry aeroshell.
"The team is thrilled to be the supplier of these TPS materials to NASA and to support these exciting missions," stated Steve Violette, Spirit/FMI Senior Scientist, Application Engineering. "Not only will this result in the first samples ever returned from Mars, but it will also feature a game-changing technology that will enable more challenging missions for years to come."
Dragonfly is a planned mission in the New Frontiers Program scheduled to launch in 2027. Dragonfly will send a robotic rotorcraft to the surface of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, to study chemistry and habitability. FMI manufactures a material called PICA for the Dragonfly spacecraft's heat shield that will enable it to enter Titan's atmosphere. PICA is a proven (TPS) material which has supported several NASA missions including Stardust, Mars Science Lab and the Curiosity Rover, OSIRIS REx, and Mars 2020, which is currently on the way to Mars and scheduled to land in February 2021.
Mars Sample Return (MSR) is a multi-spacecraft mission designed to return samples from Mars. The Mars 2020 spacecraft, protected by its PICA heatshield, will land the Perseverance rover on Mars surface. The Perseverance rover will accomplish several scientific missions, including the collection of samples for MSR. The MSR mission will require two vehicles to return with samples. Under the NASA contract, FMI will supply the TPS materials for both spacecraft which includes PICA and a new innovation called 3MDCP (formerly HEEET) that FMI helped NASA develop.
"Our team has spent a year and a half establishing the capabilities to support TPS production for NASA's exploration missions. As TPS Project Manager, I see the contract award is the culmination of all that hard work," says Taylor Franklin, Spirit/FMI Project Engineer. "It is acknowledgment of the trust NASA has placed in us to deliver the highest quality products required for these missions."
Suggested Items
SIA Statement on Senate Commerce Committee Legislation that Funds CHIPS & Science Programs
05/02/2024 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today released the following statement from Vice President of Government Affairs David Isaacs in support of provisions included in legislation pending before the Senate Commerce Committee that would fund critical CHIPS & Science Act programs.
Intel Takes Next Step Toward Building Scalable Silicon-Based Quantum Processors
05/02/2024 | BUSINESS WIRENature published an Intel research paper, “Probing single electrons across 300-mm spin qubit wafers,” demonstrating state-of-the-art uniformity, fidelity and measurement statistics of spin qubits.
IPC's Vision for Empowering PCB Design Engineers
04/30/2024 | Robert Erickson, IPCAs architects of innovation, printed circuit board designers are tasked with translating increasingly complex concepts into tangible designs that power our modern world. IPC provides the necessary community, standards framework, and education to prepare these pioneers as they explore the boundaries of what’s possible, equipping engineers with the knowledge, skills, and resources required to thrive in an increasingly dynamic field.
Incap US Hosts Annual Food Drive
04/30/2024 | IncapIncap US recently concluded its annual food drive, a tradition aimed at supporting the Greater Washington County Food Bank. This year marked the fourth year of the initiative, and we couldn’t be prouder of the collective effort that was made to its success.
Guerrilla RF Completes Strategic Acquisition of GaN Device Portfolio from Gallium Semiconductor
04/29/2024 | BUSINESS WIREGuerrilla RF, Inc. has finalized the acquisition of Gallium Semiconductor's entire portfolio of GaN power amplifiers and front-end modules. Effective April 26th, 2024, GUER acquired all previously released components as well as new cores under development at Gallium Semiconductor.