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ARC ADEPT — Adaptable Deployable Entry and Placement Technology

FO provided the suborbital flight test that validated ADEPT's deployment and aerodynamic performance — a mechanically deployable aeroshell for planetary entry.

Created: Session 97, 2026-04-07
Last updated: Session 97, 2026-04-07

Summary

ADEPT is a deployable aeroshell (like a folded umbrella that opens into a heat shield) for planetary entry, descent, and landing. Game Changing Development (GCD) funded the core technology development; Flight Opportunities funded the SR-1 sounding rocket flight test on September 12, 2018, using UP Aerospace's SpaceLoft XL at White Sands. The flight successfully demonstrated exo-atmospheric deployment and stable supersonic-to-subsonic entry. ADEPT remains at concept maturity for Venus, Mars, and Titan missions — no mission has yet selected it.

FO Project

91412 — ADEPT Flight Testing

Field Value
Lead Org Ames Research Center
PI Paul F. Wercinski
Period 2014-08-28 to 2019-10-11
TRL 4 → 5
Status Completed
TX TX09.4.5: Integrated Modeling and Simulation for EDL

SR-1 Flight Test (September 12, 2018): - Vehicle: 0.7m deployed diameter ADEPT on UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL sounding rocket - Location: White Sands Missile Range, NM - Objectives: (1) Demonstrate stow-separate-deploy sequence in exo-atmospheric zero-g; (2) Characterize aerodynamic performance of faceted blunt-body geometry during supersonic-to-subsonic deceleration - Results: On-board video confirmed deployment achieved and maintained. Post-flight analysis showed stable flight below Mach 0.8. Both primary objectives met.

Connection to UP Aerospace: ADEPT flew on the same SpaceLoft XL platform used for UP Aerospace's own SPYDER missions (94196, 94202, 106636). See UP Aerospace page.

GCD Parent Projects

Project Period TRL Description
13596 ADEPT 2014-2016 3→6 Core technology development — fabric TPS, rib/strut mechanisms
94041 ADEPT/SR-1 2016-2019 3→5 SR-1 flight experiment preparation and execution (GCD-funded)
116322 ADEPT-Spider weave 2019-2021 3→4 Post-SR-1 thermal testing of woven TPS (Bally Ribbon Mills)

FO's role: GCD funded the technology development and experiment preparation; FO funded the suborbital flight test environment. This is a co-funded maturation model where FO provides the flight access.

Mission Concepts Studied

ADEPT has been proposed for multiple planetary destinations but has not been selected for any mission:

  • Venus: Aerocapture for small satellite missions. Studies suggest 70% payload increase vs. propulsive orbit insertion. Papers: NTRS 20190011701 (2019).
  • Mars: SmallSat delivery to Mars surface. "Enabling New and Innovative Low Cost Mars Science" (Low Cost Mars Workshop 2022, Wercinski presentation).
  • Titan: Entry system for Titan exploration concepts.
  • Earth return: CubeSat and SmallSat Earth return from orbit.
  • "Dandelander" concept: ADEPT-based delivery of small surface payloads (referenced in TechPort).

Publications

  • NTRS 20190028862: "ADEPT Sounding Rocket One Flight Test Overview" (2019)
  • NTRS 20190031937: "ADEPT Sounding Rocket One (SR-1) Flight Test" (2019)
  • NTRS 20180006874: "ADEPT SR-1 Development and Testing" (2018)
  • NTRS 20190002830: "ADEPT, A Mechanically Deployable Re-Entry Vehicle System, Enabling Interplanetary CubeSat and Small Satellite Missions" (SmallSat Conference)
  • AGU 2020: "The Adaptable, Deployable, Entry and Placement Technology (ADEPT) enabling advanced entry, descent, and landing capabilities for SmallSat missions"

Outcome Assessment

Category Assessment
Outcome Technology Ready, Awaiting Mission Selection
TRL achieved 5 (FO) / 6 (GCD overall)
Mission infusion No — no mission has selected ADEPT
Commercial No — NASA center technology
Follow-on funding GCD continued post-SR-1 with Spider weave testing
Publications 5+ NTRS papers + conference presentations
Time since FO flight 7.5 years (Sep 2018 → Apr 2026)

Assessment: ADEPT is technically successful — the SR-1 flight met both objectives. But without a mission selecting a deployable aeroshell for EDL, the technology remains in the "ready but waiting" state. This is a common pattern for NASA center EDL technologies: high TRL achieved, but mission selection depends on science objectives and decadal survey priorities that are outside the technology developer's control.

Verification

Claim Evidence Confidence
SR-1 flight occurred Sep 12, 2018 NTRS papers, NASA image gallery Confirmed
SR-1 met both objectives NTRS 20190028862, on-board video Confirmed
Flew on UP Aerospace SpaceLoft XL NTRS, NASA descriptions Confirmed
No mission has selected ADEPT No mission references found in web search Confirmed (negative)
GCD funded overall program; FO funded flight test TechPort [91412] (FO) + [94041] (GCD) Confirmed