Nano-ADEPT: An entry system for secondary payloads

Small spacecraft have emerged in recent years from a niche academic pursuit to a platform for governments and corporations to perform scientific and commercial ventures in space at much lower cost. Simultaneously, the field of Entry, Descent, and Landing (EDL) is rapidly maturing a number of technologies geared toward delivering ever-larger payloads to destinations across our solar system, with the culminating event being safe transport of human beings to the surface of Mars. One of these technologies for landing large payloads, known as the Adaptable, Deployable Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT), uses a mechanical skeleton to deploy a revolutionary carbon fabric system that serves as both heat shield and primary structure during atmospheric entry. This paper explores the application of a Nano-ADEPT entry system for delivery of very small payloads (<; 5 kg) to locations of interest in an effort to leverage low-cost platforms to rapidly mature the technology while simultaneously delivering high-value science. It is shown that secondary payload missions to Mars as well as entry from low Earth orbit are feasible. Secondary payload missions to Venus at small scale present a greater challenge and may only be feasible if the system can be designed with exceptionally low mass. The technology maturation strategy for Nano-ADEPT is described. Four test campaigns underway at the time of writing are discussed in detail, including deployment testing, wind tunnel testing, system-level arc jet testing, and a sounding rocket flight test. To conclude, a mission opportunity is described to demonstrate Nano-ADEPT from the International Space Station.