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Revolutionary Inflatable Decelerators Set for Spacecraft Re-Entry

5/14/2025

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Summary

Story summary

Inflatable aerodynamic decelerators (IADs) are set to transform spacecraft re-entry systems, according to the IDTechEx report on "Heat Shields and Thermal Protection Systems for Spacecraft 2025-2035." Developed by the German start-up ATMOS, these innovative devices promise a new era in thermal protection, with commercial missions expected to launch by the end of the decade, despite existing challenges.

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Story summary

Inflatable aerodynamic decelerators (IADs) are set to transform spacecraft re-entry systems, according to the IDTechEx report on "Heat Shields and Thermal Protection Systems for Spacecraft 2025-2035." Developed by the German start-up ATMOS, these innovative devices promise a new era in thermal protection, with commercial missions expected to launch by the end of the decade, despite existing challenges.