Arnhem, The Netherlands, 30 July 2020 — Teijin Aramid, a world leader in aramid, announces that, with the successful launch of NASA’s Mars Perseverance Rover from Cape Canaveral in Florida, its Technora® high-performance fiber is again enabling space exploration. The premium para-aramid Technora® plays a critical role in the structure of the Rover’s landing parachute, developed by Airborne Systems and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, which will be deployed during descent to Mars in February 2021. 

On a mission to seek signs of past microscopic Martian life and gather rocks soil for its eventual return to Earth, the Mars Perseverance Rover is carrying the heaviest payload of any mission to the Red Planet yet. In view of this unprecedented challenge, the parachute system has undergone an extensive set of demanding tests. Specifically, the parachute system has proven it can support an inflation load of 31,751 kg (almost 70,000 lb). The challenging surface conditions on Mars include average temperatures of -63°C, frequent dust storms, and atmospheric electricity.

©Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The Mars Perseverance Rover’s inflated parachute and suspension cords

Proven technologies and systems

To ensure this unique parachute system performs under the extreme conditions of the descent to Mars, 60 kg (132 lb) of Technora® are incorporated into the parachute’s suspension cords. Technora® is also used in the parachute riser. Indeed, this mission builds on the proven technologies and systems of previous Mars Rover expeditions, which also carried Technora®. In particular, Technora® was used on the Mars Curiosity Rover in 2012, where the parachute’s suspension cords had to withstand a 9G force during the landing – about 27,000 kg (59,525 lb).

Charles Lowry, Lead Project Engineer for Airborne Systems North America, Mars 2020 Parachute System Subcontractor: “When designing and building the parachute system for Mars Perseverance Rover, it was very important to utilize the volume that we were allocated to its fullest potential. Thanks to its outstanding strength-to-weight ratio, Technora® allows us to do just that and increases the overall safety of the mission by providing more volume for stronger parachute cloth. There are many unknowns involved in any mission to space, but the tried and proven performance of Technora® is not one of them.”

Peter ter Horst, CEO Teijin Aramid: “Today is a proud day for everyone at Teijin Aramid. Our journey into space has taken another exciting step. Our partners throughout the space industry have long recognized the unique potential of incorporating Technora® into their products to unlock new levels of performance. The launch of the Mars Perseverance Rover shows that we’re again the partner of choice when strength and reliability are of unprecedented importance.”

Read our article for more detailed information

If you want to find out all about this extraordinary mission and the crucial role of Technora®, check out our news article: Counting down to a Mars landing.

About Teijin Aramid
Teijin Aramid is a subsidiary of the Teijin Group and world leader in aramids. Its aramid products Twaron®, Teijinconex®, Technora® and its ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW-PE) Endumax® are renowned for their strength, sustainability, safety, heat resistance and low weight and are used in different applications and markets including automotive, ballistic protection, marine, civil engineering, protective clothing, ropes, fiber optic cables and oil & gas. These high performance materials are produced in the Netherlands, Thailand and Japan. For more information: www.teijinaramid.com

About the Teijin Group
Teijin (TSE: 3401) is a technology-driven global group offering advanced solutions in the fields of environmental value; safety, security and disaster mitigation; and demographic change and increased health consciousness. Originally established as Japan’s first rayon manufacturer in 1918, Teijin has evolved into a unique enterprise encompassing three core business domains: high-performance materials including aramid, carbon fibers and composites, and also resin and plastic processing, films, polyester fibers and products converting; healthcare including pharmaceuticals and home healthcare equipment for bone/joint, respiratory and cardiovascular/metabolic diseases, nursing care and pre-symptomatic healthcare; and IT including B2B solutions for medical, corporate and public systems as well as packaged software and B2C online services for digital entertainment. Deeply committed to its stakeholders, as expressed in the brand statement “Human Chemistry, Human Solutions”, Teijin aims to be a company that supports the society of the future. The group comprises more than 170 companies and employs some 20,000 people across 20 countries worldwide. Teijin posted consolidated sales of JPY 853.7 billion (USD 8.0 billion) and total assets of JPY 1,004.2 billion (USD 9.4 billion) in the fiscal year that ended on March 31, 2020.  Please visit www.teijin.com

Press Contact:

For additional information about Teijin Aramid or to speak to one of the experts, please contact:

Teijin Aramid (Arnhem, Netherlands)
Suzan Wilbers, Corporate & Marketing Communications
+88 (0) 2689038
Suzan.Wilbers@teijinaramid.com