Bally Ribbon Mills recognized with NASA award

Bally Ribbon Mills has developed a 3D Orthogonally woven 3DMAT Quartz Material for the Orion Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle (MPCV) compression pads. Developed through their partnership with NASA, it has been named the 2023 NASA Government Invention of the Year. The award demonstrates NASA Ames Research Center’s commitment to cutting edge leadership and technology development for the nation. 

Compression pads serve as the interface between the crew module and service module of the Orion MPCV and carry the structural loads generated during launch, space operation and pyroshock separation of the two modules. The compression pads also serve as ablative thermal protection systems (TPS) withstanding the high heating of earth reentry. 3DMAT leverages NASA’s investment in woven materials for the Orion compression pads that combines the weaving of quartz yarns with resin transfer molding. 

BRM and NASA efforts are an example of NASA partnering with an American small business with a unique specialized technological capability that will further current and future exploration plans. The 3DMAT technology has helped BRM introduce 3D orthogonal woven materials to a range of new applications. 

Bally Ribbon Mills (BRM) designs, develops, and manufactures specialized engineered woven webbing, tapes, specialty fabrics, woven preforms, and two dimensional and three-dimensional structural fabrics.