ICARUS Alliance’s Rocket Heat Shields Receive €15M Funding Injection

The ICARUS consortium's endeavor to develop inflatable heat shields for recovering rocket stages from space and advancing Mars missions marks a significant milestone in the realm of space exploration. With a €15 million injection of funding from the European Union (EU), ICARUS sets out to revolutionize re-entry technologies and propel Europe to the forefront of space exploration endeavors.

Led by Spain's Deimos and comprised of esteemed partners such as Germany's Atmos, the German Aerospace Centre (DLR), and official space research centers from Italy (CIRA) and France (ONERA), ICARUS represents a collaborative effort to push the boundaries of aerospace engineering. The consortium's collective expertise and resources position ICARUS as a key player in shaping the future of space exploration.

The €10 million funding provided by the European Commission (EC) under the Horizon Europe program underscores the EU's commitment to fostering innovation and driving advancements in space technology. This substantial investment reflects Europe's ambition to compete on a global scale and solidify its position as a leader in space exploration and research.

Over the course of approximately four years, the ICARUS project will progress through three pivotal phases, each aimed at achieving specific milestones and advancing the development of inflatable heat shield technology. In the initial phase, the consortium will focus on completing mission and system designs while maturing key technologies on the ground. This phase lays the groundwork for subsequent stages and ensures that the project is on track to achieve its objectives.

The second phase of the project represents a critical milestone, as it involves conducting a flight test aboard a sounding rocket. This phase will feature a meaningful-scale demonstrator of an Inflatable Heat Shield (IHS) in hypersonic conditions, providing valuable insights into the performance and feasibility of the technology in real-world scenarios. The deployment of the IHS demonstrator, with an approximate diameter of 50cm inside the rocket and expanding to about 3m in diameter when inflated, will be a testament to the consortium's technological prowess and innovation.

Following the flight test, the consortium will embark on the third and final phase of the project, which entails a comprehensive post-flight analysis. This analysis will involve evaluating data and information collected during the mission, enabling engineers to assess the behavior of the spacecraft, validate the performance of onboard technologies, and refine simulation models for future applications. The insights gained from this phase will inform future developments and contribute to the ongoing advancement of inflatable heat shield technology.

While the primary focus of ICARUS is on developing technology for recovering rocket stages from space, the potential applications of this innovative technology extend far beyond re-entry scenarios. The inflatable heat shields developed through ICARUS could also be utilized to protect precious cargo during re-entry and descent to Earth, offering a reliable and cost-effective solution for space exploration missions.

Moreover, the technology developed through ICARUS holds promise for future Mars missions, where hypersonic entry poses significant challenges. By leveraging inflatable heat shield technology, spacecraft could navigate the Martian atmosphere more effectively, enabling safe and efficient landings on the Martian surface. This could pave the way for groundbreaking discoveries and advancements in our understanding of the Red Planet.

Simone Centuori, CEO of Deimos, expressed optimism about the ICARUS project, highlighting its potential to revolutionize European re-entry technologies and support applications such as recovering rocket stages and facilitating hypersonic entry on Mars. Centuori emphasized the collaborative nature of the project, which brings together top-tier research organizations and companies to drive innovation and push the boundaries of space exploration.

As the ICARUS project kicks off in June 2024, anticipation is high for the demonstrator test scheduled for 2028. With its ambitious objectives and collaborative approach, ICARUS represents a significant step forward in Europe's quest to explore the cosmos and unlock the mysteries of the universe. By investing in cutting-edge technologies and fostering collaboration across borders, Europe is poised to shape the future of space exploration and inspire generations to come.