NASA Exo-Brake: Space Parachute Protects Small Spacecraft On Its Way Returning To Earth

NASA Exo-Brake parachute helps small satellite on its way back to planet Earth without burning. The space parachute will drop loads to Earth from the International Space Station (ISS) through the deployment of small spacecraft in early 2017. The JAXA's Kounotori is a space transfer vehicle that carries small Exo-Brake.

The device seems like a miniature, cross-shaped parachute that deploys from the rear end of the payload to amplify the drag during the de-orbit phase. A ground team will control the space parachute movements adjusting the Exo-Brake system of mechanical struts and flexible cord. The team will also rely on real-time orbital trajectory stimulation. The control system will wrap like how the Wright brothers used to control the first wing design airplane.

Marcus Murbach said that the wrapping allows engineers to direct the spacecraft to a preferred entry point without the use of fuel. The accurate landing for future return missions like carrying payloads to Mars and other celestial bodies would be tested by a larger experiment called Technology Education (TechEdSat-5). This larger research also includes testing of an avionics board powered by Intel's Edison microprocessor. It is designed to test the unique Wi-Fi capabilities and cameras and how the Iridium L-band transceiver for data utilize the PhoneSat-4 avionics board.

This experiment will significantly benefit the entire nanosatellite community. This nanosatellite was launched December 9 on Japan's H-II Transfer Vehicle from Tanegashima Space Center. The Exo-Brake has been tested on sub-orbital rockets. The project determined the larger scale systems of two additional technologies on TechEdSat-5.

These technologies include the Cricket Wireless Sensor Module (WSM) and the PhoneSat-5 avionics board. The rapid return of payloads to Earth was tested two and a half hours after the initial launch through sending a command via email. NASA Ames Research Center and the NASA Engineering and Safety Center support the funding for Exo-Brake, together with the Entry Systems Modeling project within the Space Technology Mission Directorate's Game Changing Development program.