The Sandia National Laboratories conducted successful tests on heat shield prototypes for the Mars Sample Return and Dragonfly missions, utilizing focused sunlight rather than traditional laser methods.
PICA, the lightweight material developed in the 1990s, allows spacecraft to withstand reentry conditions and is crucial for both Mars and Titan missions' heat shields.
Ken Armijo noted that the Mars Sample Return mission's payload heaviness means it experiences greater heat during atmospheric entry, necessitating advanced heat shield capabilities.
Sandia's National Solar Thermal Test Facility excels in testing larger heat shields, accommodating samples up to three feet wide, which is advantageous for innovative spacecraft designs.
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