New woven composite materials are an advanced space technology that mark a major milestone toward development of the space systems that will enable extending human and robotic presence throughout the solar system. As a manufacturer of high-performance multidimensional (3D) woven materials, Bally Ribbon Mills (located in Bally, PA) is weaving the multifunctional thermal protection system padding used to insulate and protect NASA's Orion spacecraft. Orion, which recently completed its first flight test, will carry astronauts to Mars and return them safely to Earth with the help of this technology.
