ILC Awarded Contract from JPL for Design and Fabrication of a SIAD

PRLog (Press Release) - Jul. 21, 2011 - Frederica, Delaware: ILC Dover LP has been awarded a contract from the Jet Propulsion Laboratory for design and fabrication of a Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD) which is to be tested in early 2012.  The SIAD is a high temperature fabric inflatable that fits around an entry capsule and, in the future, will help slow the capsule as it descends to the surface of Mars.  A variety of tests are planned at facilities around the United States and in balloon drop tests to prove out this new technology.

ILC has a long history of designing and building high temperature fabric aerodynamic decelerators beginning with weapon system ballutes and stabilizers in the early 1990’s.  ILC also built a hypersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator (HIAD) for the NASA IRVE-2 test flight on August 17th 2009.  IRVE-2 was the world’s first successful demonstration of an inflatable to enter earth’s atmosphere from space and decelerate to a subsonic speed.
 
Since 1947, ILC Dover has provided engineered solutions to complex customer problems, serving the aerospace, personal protection and pharmaceutical industries.    Known for production of space suits for NASA, ILC is a world leader in the use of high-performance flexible materials, allowing for unique solutions to meet customer needs.   ILC’s innovative products have been used on the moon, on Mars and around the globe.

ILC Dover…creating what’s next

Contact:
Cliff Willey
Program Manager, Inflatable Products
PH: 302-335-3911, ext. 252
willec@ilcdover.com