Karman Selected to Design Parachute Mortar for NASA’s SkyFall Mission

Karman Space & Defense announced Monday, Oct. 26, that NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory selected it to design and develop a parachute deployment mortar for SkyFall, a Mars mission scheduled to carry three helicopters.

The mortar is intended to deploy a parachute during atmospheric entry. The descent sequence then uses braking rockets to slow the descent stage before the helicopters separate in midair and land individually.

The three rotorcraft will study Martian weather and geology and map possible subsurface ice. Their ground-penetrating radar is designed to detect ice 1.6 to 10 feet (0.5 to 3.0 meters) below the surface.

Karman characterized the assignment as its first system fully designed and developed specifically for a Mars mission. “There are no second chances during entry and descent,” said Karman Chief Executive Officer Jon Rambeau.

SkyFall is scheduled to launch in 2028. The award’s value and duration were not disclosed.