NASA TPS Capability for Astrobiology Missions

The two kinds of science missions that support Astrobiology are: 1) In-situ investigations at destinations that have the potential for life and 2) technically challenging sample return missions to allow sample analysis with sophisticated hardware on Earth. Both mission types need thermal protection systems (TPS) as they enter the planet’s atmosphere, but samples returned to Earth must further obey backward planetary protection requirements to avoid contaminating Earth during atmospheric entry and recovery. In-situ missions benefit from NASA’s enduring capability with low-density ablators (missions like Mars2020 and Dragonfly) and the continued efforts in optimizing the technology for improved performance at lower cost. Sample return missions adhering to Category 5 backward planetary protections are made viable by Woven TPS, as with Mars Sample Return – Earth Entry System. For each TPS, however, there are existential threats that originate from commercial supply chain challenges and atrophy in industrial capabilities. Looking to the future missions of interest to Astrobiology (e.g. comet and/or Enceladus sample return), it is imperative that the community advocate for the continuation of NASA’s specialized expertise in TPS. Preserving experience base allows NASA, having developed most of the TPS that serve planetary missions, to address supply chain issues, develop alternates, and revive capabilities as needed. NASA experts are the only group with long-term charter that can and will provide end-to-end support to ensure mission success.