Inflatable Heat Shields

NASA has successfully tested a prototype inflatable heat shield. Using a sounding rocket to throw the experiment 131 miles out, the shield, made of several layers of Kevlar, was inflated and brought back to Earth. The test seemed to meet or exceed all expectations.

NASA is looking at such a system especially in regard to future Mars missions; it would allow more massive objects to be delivered to Mars, both by saving mass in the heat shield, and by inflating the shield, expanding the surface area, thus creating more drag to slow the craft in the Martian atmosphere. The concept is further helped by the weaker gravity and thinner atmosphere of Mars, as compared to Earth. The heat during descent to Mars doesn't reach the blast furnace temperatures produced during re-entry on Earth.