SpaceX could launch this wild, origami-inspired folding heat shield later this year

By Josh Dinner published about 13 hours ago
The new heat shield is called Pridwen, named after the shield donned by King Arthur.



a small spacecraft expands to form an octagonal heat shield as it enters Earth's atmosphere
(Image credit: ESA/Space Forge)

A private company has plans to test a revolutionary new heat shield that folds and unfolds like origami.

The new heat shield built by Cardiff, UK-based company Space Forge is called Pridwen, named after the shield donned by King Arthur. Pridwen will be the company's first prototype that will undergo a test including a reentry through Earth's atmosphere, and is progressing toward a launch later this year.

ESA recently posted an update on the origami heat shield to the space agency's website, adding that Pridwen will be a part of Star Forge's ForgeStar-1A mission that will launch on a ride-share flight aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.



Following payload release and the probe's ensuing trajectory back to Earth, the heat shield will deploy prior to atmospheric reentry and be recovered using Star Forge's "hover net," an uncrewed water vessel designed to catch payloads returning from space, according to a company statement.

More:
https://www.space.com/spacex-space-forge-origami-heatshield