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NASA Tests Dragonfly Heat Shield at Sandia, Targets 2028 Launch

6/8/2026

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Summary

Story summary

NASA tested Dragonfly’s heat shield at Sandia National Laboratories, the only western-hemisphere site that can reproduce Titan-heat-shield conditions.
Milad Mahzari (NASA engineer at Ames Research Center) said the PICA-D material required a discontinued precursor, so engineers reformulated it.
Testing began in 2023, will run up to eight tests per visit for three years, and supports the July 2028 launch with Titan arrival expected in late 2034.

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Story summary

NASA tested Dragonfly’s heat shield at Sandia National Laboratories, the only western-hemisphere site that can reproduce Titan-heat-shield conditions.
Milad Mahzari (NASA engineer at Ames Research Center) said the PICA-D material required a discontinued precursor, so engineers reformulated it.
Testing began in 2023, will run up to eight tests per visit for three years, and supports the July 2028 launch with Titan arrival expected in late 2034.