NASA's New Millenium Program (NMP) demonstrates and validates new
technologies to be applied on future space missions.

The ARA Ablatives Lab was asked to create a new device for aerocapture of an incoming, high-velocity spacecraft, in order to achieve orbit without the use of chemical retro-propulsion.

• flight test and flight validation of new materials for aerocapture missions

• supportive of main goal of successful execution and demonstration of planetary (Earth) capture

• build and supply ablator coupons for ground test and flight validation

• select and provide for instrumentation to gauge performance

• plan for and perform analysis of flight data for conclusions on ablator efficiency