Space Mobility
Expanding our presence in space at lower costs
Responsive Launch
Reusable rockets are fueling rapid growth in the new space economy. Thermal Protection Systems (TPS) are single point of failure at hypersonic speeds during rocket re-entry.
Current manufacturing methods for TPSs are slow, expensive, and labor-intensive. In response, Orbital is developing low-cost, high-volume manufacturing of TPS using Ceramic Matrix Composites (CMCs).
This enables:
High-volume TPS production
Double+ rocket payload with CMC nozzles
Extreme temperature heat shields for planetary sample return missions
Direct-to-Phase II SBIR award
In-space Service, Assembly and Manufacturing (ISAM)
We’ve got the new Space economy surrounded
The era of in-space servicing and assembly is new and growing – and the potential is unbounded.
-White House, December 2022 Press Release