.jpg) Artist's rendering of LDSD test vehicle in flight | |
| Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Operator | NASA |
| Applications | Technology demonstrator |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Hypercone |
| Launch mass | 3,120 kg (6,878 lb)[1] |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in)[1] |
| Regime | Suborbital |
| Production | |
| Status | In production |
| On order | 0 |
| Built | 3 |
| Launched | 2 |
| Maiden launch | June 28, 2014 |
The Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator or LDSD is a reentry vehicle designed to test techniques for atmospheric entry on Mars. The disc-shaped LDSD uses an inflatable structure called the Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD), which is essentially a donut-shaped balloon, to create atmospheric drag in order to decelerate the vehicle before deploying a large supersonic parachute.[2] The goal of the $230 m project is to develop a reentry system capable of landing 2- to 3-ton payloads on Mars, as opposed to the 1-ton limit of the currently used systems.[3]
The vehicle is being developed and tested by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.[1] Mark Adler is the project manager.[4]
The vehicle was tested in 2014 and 2015.[5]
- ^ a b c Cite error: The named reference
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cnn20140629was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Alan Boyle. "Oh, Chute! NASA's Flying Saucer Test Ends With Only Partial Success". NBC News. Retrieved June 9, 2015.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
america20140701was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ Agle, D. C. (March 26, 2015). "Take a Spin With NASA Cutting-edge Mars Landing Technology". NASA. Retrieved March 28, 2015.