French company Snecma Propulsion Solide has been selected by NASA to develop thermal protection and re-entry technologies for spacecraft in Project Constellation.
Snecma is one of only two non-US companies chosen to pursue technology under the new space exploration initiative. The contract is worth $40 million.
Thermal protection would be needed to safeguard an engine during ascent and orbit. Re-entry technology could be used for NASA's crew exploration vehicle.
"We are doing some high temperature composites. They are ceramic matrix composites. Our proposal [to NASA] is based on this set of composites," says Marc Lacoste, a senior Snecma thermal composites manager involved in the project.
The ceramic matrix technology derives from thermal protection now used on the Ariane 5 solid rocket booster and its Vulcain 2 upper stage engine.
Project Constellation embodies US President George Bush's vision for space exploration. The only other selected non-US company is British Titanium (Flight International, 7-13 December)
Source: Flight International
