FLIGHT OPPORTUNITIES COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WEBINAR
Heat Shield Flight Testing and Space Industry Growth: NASA Successes
Wednesday, May 6 | 1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. ET
Speakers
- Jan Stupl, Flight Systems Engineer, NASA’s Ames Research Center
- Matt Gasch, Research Scientist, NASA’s Ames Research Center
- Jonathan Morgan, Arc-Jet Liaison, NASA’s Ames Research Center
- Dr. Hannah Alpert, Aerospace Systems Engineer, NASA’s Ames Research Center
- Brandi Sippel, Vice President of Mission Management, Varda Space Industries
- Dr. Marat Kulakhmetov, Head of Analysis and Hypersonics, Varda Space Industries
- Jake Moomaw, Senior Thermal Engineer, Varda Space Industries
Abstract
When venturing to other planets or returning to Earth, safe atmospheric entry is a top priority. NASA has decades of experience in creating thermal protection systems (TPS) that help spacecraft withstand the intense heat generated when entering an atmosphere. Join this webinar to hear how TPS technologies advanced through the Flight Opportunities program are building commercial space capabilities, illustrating what’s possible through NASA and industry collaboration.
The C-PICA (Conformal Phenolic Impregnated Carbon Ablator) powerful yet lightweight protective material originally developed at NASA’s Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley is enabling important commercial space applications. For example, in early 2026, a heat shield based on this NASA technology and manufactured by Varda Space Industries re-entered Earth’s atmosphere for the first time. Launched into orbit on Nov. 28, 2025, the capsule’s return tested how effectively the NASA-developed, Varda-produced C-PICA material protected the company’s W-5 spacecraft — and the science and technology experiments inside it — from the extreme heat of speeding through Earth’s atmosphere. Supported by Flight Opportunities via a Tipping Point award, this flight test demonstrated how NASA is helping open the door to greater growth of in-space manufacturing and commercial re-entry technology for routine orbital return, potentially expanding the U.S. space economy.
In a discussion moderated by Flight Opportunities representatives, speakers from NASA’s Ames Research Center and Varda Space Industries will discuss the C-PICA flight testing as well as commercial use of other NASA TPS technologies, such as ADEPT (Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology). Testing of ADEPT with Flight Opportunities helped pave the way for commercialization of this cutting-edge technology, which serves as both a heat shield and an aerodynamic surface. Panelists will also explore how partnerships between industry and government accelerate transformative technologies and foster the growth of America’s orbital economy.
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+1 256-715-9946 | Phone Conference ID: 120 836 374#
