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HeetShield, Inc. — OFI and FIRA Thermal Protection Materials

FO Project: 106740
Title: Enabling Technology for Thermal Protection on HIAD and Other Hypersonic Missions
TRL: 4→6
Period: 2021-08-01 – 2024-08-31
Lead Org: HeetShield, Inc. — Flagstaff, AZ (UACI alumnus company)
PI: Steve Miller
Co-Is: F. Cheatwood (NASA LaRC — HIAD Program Manager); Kamran Daryabeigi (NASA LaRC)
Primary TX: TX09.1.1 Thermal Protection Systems
Founded: 2020

What Was Tested

HeetShield developed two novel TPS (thermal protection system) materials targeting different heat transfer modes:

1. OFI — Opacified Fibrous Insulation
Attenuates the radiation mode of heat transfer. Funded originally by AFOSR (Air Force Office of Scientific Research) for hypersonic vehicle applications — from space planes to hypersonic missiles. The opacification agents embedded in the fiber matrix block infrared radiation from penetrating the insulation layer.

2. FIRA — Flexible Insulation with Reinforced Aerogel
Minimizes conductive heat transfer. Aerogel is the world's best solid insulator; the reinforcement makes it flexible — critical for HIAD's geometry, since a Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator must fold for stowage and then inflate to large diameter during entry.

Flight test: August 29, 2024, Van Horn TX (Blue Origin New Shepard launch site). A 5.8" diameter test article carrying both materials was exposed to rocket exhaust conditions. The test validated thermal performance under realistic flight heating rates. TRL advanced 4→6 — from lab-scale performance validated to flight-environment validated.

Why the NASA LaRC Co-Is Matter

Fred Cheatwood is not just a LaRC researcher — he is the HIAD Program Manager at NASA Langley. HIAD (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator) is NASA's large inflatable aeroshell concept for high-mass Mars entry and Earth return from deep space. Having the actual HIAD program manager as co-investigator is the strongest possible signal of a real, identified infusion path: if HIAD advances to a flight mission, a LaRC-co-developed TPS material is a natural candidate.

Kamran Daryabeigi (also NASA LaRC) is a senior TPS researcher; his involvement provides thermal modeling and materials expertise from the government side.

This is a two-way relationship: HeetShield gets credibility and access to flight test infrastructure; NASA gets a small company developing materials tailored to HIAD's specific requirements.

HeetShield Background

Founded in 2020 in Flagstaff, AZ, explicitly to commercialize thermal insulation research developed through government R&D funding. Company is a UACI alumnus — a graduate of the University of Arizona Center for Innovation business incubator in Flagstaff.

Multi-agency funding base: - NASA (Flight Opportunities — this project) - AFOSR (OFI for hypersonic DoD applications) - USMC (Marine Corps — likely firefighter/tactical thermal protection) - USDA and NSF (likely for wildland firefighter applications)

USASpending: No contracts found under "HeetShield" — the company is pre-revenue, operating on grants and SBIRs rather than government procurement contracts. The FO project is their primary NASA funding vehicle.

Applications and Markets

Space (HIAD): The named infusion target. HIAD-2 development at NASA LaRC is the most direct path. If HIAD ever flies a demonstration or operational mission (high-mass Mars entry, Earth return vehicle), HeetShield's FIRA and OFI materials are candidate components. Cheatwood co-authorship is the strongest indicator this is a live infusion path rather than aspirational.

Hypersonic military: AFOSR-funded OFI was developed for hypersonic vehicles. The DoD hypersonic program is large and actively seeking TPS solutions — this may be the nearer-term, larger revenue opportunity. Hypersonic missiles and glide vehicles require thermal protection that can handle sustained heating at Mach 5+ with minimal weight.

Wildfire/firefighter protection: HeetShield's stated commercial applications include firefighter gear. FIRA's flexible aerogel architecture is directly applicable to protective suits. USDA and USMC funding (likely USMC firefighting units or tactical gear) supports this. Wildland firefighter TPS is a commercial market with clearer near-term revenue paths than space or hypersonics.

Outcome Category

Proof of Concept / Pre-revenue. TRL 4→6 achieved — materials validated in flight-representative thermal environment. No contracts, no product sales, no follow-on mission assignment as of 2024. Company is at the grant/SBIR stage, building toward a first commercial contract.

Archetype: Deep-tech TPS startup. Founded around specific IP (OFI + FIRA formulations), funded through multi-agency grants, seeking first commercial contract. The HIAD infusion path (via Cheatwood) is the strongest lead. DoD hypersonic is the more immediate market by procurement timeline.

Timeline

Date Event
2020 HeetShield founded, Flagstaff AZ, through UACI incubator
2021-08-01 FO project 106740 starts (TRL 4)
Aug 29, 2024 Flight test, Van Horn TX — OFI + FIRA in 5.8" test article exposed to rocket heating
2024-08-31 FO project closes; TRL reaches 6

Confidence

  • TRL 4→6 via flight test Aug 29, 2024: confirmed (TechPort 106740, NASA "Breaking Atmosphere" article)
  • F. Cheatwood as HIAD Program Manager at LaRC: confirmed (NASA LaRC biography, TechPort co-I listing)
  • AFOSR, USMC, USDA, NSF funding acknowledged: suggestive (HeetShield company materials; not independently verified via USASpending)
  • No downstream contract yet: confirmed (USASpending search, pre-revenue stage)
  • HIAD as infusion path: suggestive — Cheatwood co-authorship is strong but HIAD has no confirmed flight manifest

Open Threads

  • What is the current HIAD-2 program status at LaRC post-2021? Has it advanced toward a flight demonstration?
  • Does HeetShield have a SBIR Phase II award? (SBIR.gov not yet queried)
  • Did AFOSR provide follow-on funding for OFI post-FO-project? Any hypersonic flight test?
  • Is there a USMC contract for firefighter TPS applications?
  • What are the specific thermal performance numbers from the Aug 2024 flight test? (Any published data?)

Cross-references