TANDEM: Tension adjustable network for deploying entry membrane

The Tension Adjustable Network for Deploying Entry Membrane (TANDEM) is a tensegrity rover designed to also be the frame of a deployable heat shield. TANDEM integrates the heatshield technology developed for the ADEPT entry system with an active infrastructure to combine entry, descent, and landing as well as surface locomotion into a single multifunctional system. Reusing the same active infrastructure for every phase of the mission makes TANDEM an efficient and versatile system for medium-to large-sized payloads. This efficiency translates directly to longer mission lives, increased scientific payload, or a reduction in mission cost and total mass of the whole mission. A conceptual mission to the surface of Venus is presented to illustrate the merit of the concept and is supported by proof-of-concept level calculations and simulations. The TANDEM vehicle designed for the conceptual mission is compared with two alternative designs from the literature, the VITAL mission and ADEPT-VITaL mission.