Present Entry, Descent and Landing (EDL) technology for interplanetary missions does not have the capabilities to meet the demanding requirements that come with future missions. A popular target for such missions is Mars and today efforts are made to send manned as well as sophisticated robotic probes to the Martian surface. Because present EDL technology has reached its limits, fundamentally new approaches are needed to significantly extend capabilities. Systematic evaluation of novel EDL technologies and optimization of EDL strategies are crucial needs for conceptual design. A computational framework will be presented tailored to enable systematic EDL analysis with special regards to novel EDL technology and event strategies. The benefits of flexible heat shield concepts that come with liberties in the choice of the ballistic coefficient will be shown in comparison with solid shield alternatives for payload classes of 2, 25 and 40 tonnes to show potential for manned and robotic missions. Furthermore, benefits of the new methodology for novel EDL event strategies are presented and discussed. The introduced methodology will help designers exploit new directions for conceptual design regarding EDL systems in terms of entry mass optimization and mission capabilities

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Reducing the cost of ship construction is of vital importance to the military posture and economic strength of our country. This paper presents hard evidence which confirms COSTS of construction can be REDUCED WHEN the DESIGN is RESPONSIVE TO the real problems and COSTS ENCOUNTERED IN CONSTRUCTION. The Jetfoil, a 115‐ton, 45‐knot, submerged foil Passenger Hydrofoil Ferry is in service in Europe, Asia and South America. The hull is of 5456 welded aluminum construction. At the completion of Hull 10, significant design and manufacturing changes to reduce construction costs were made. Hull 11 was constructed for about 80% of the cost of Hull 10. This paper presents a direct comparison between an initial design and a redesign to reduce construction costs, using as a specific example the bow module. The evaluation team setup and evaluation methodology are explained. The designs are compared, including construction details, part count, and amount of welding. Manufacturing tools are compared. Construction buildup and sequencing are compared. Weights are compared, and finally, actual construction man‐hours for the two designs are compared. This comparison shows the cost reductions possible when manufacturing costs become an integral part of the design process.