The space agency says it will enable a number of proposed missions to Mars, Venus, and Titan.
Now, the space agency aims to test a large inflatable aeroshell that could one day be used to deploy large payloads on Mars safely and other planets in the Solar System, aNASA's Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator will run a large inflatable heat shield — that looks remarkably like a flying saucer — through its paces early next month.
Mars's atmosphere is much less dense than the Earth's, which makes the process of slowing down spacecraft extremely challenging — as has been seen on several occasions with Mars rover landings. The atmosphere is too thin to decelerate spacecraft as quickly as it would happen on Earth, meaning entry into the atmosphere is much riskier and requires even greater protection than it does on Earth.That's why NASA will soon test its large deployable LOFTID aeroshell.
The structure is designed to allow spacecraft to slow down at higher altitudes in the upper atmosphere, meaning they will experience less intense heat. On , NASA says the "technology [will enable] a variety of proposed NASA missions to destinations such as Mars, Venus, Titan as well as return to Earth."For the upcoming demonstration test on November 1, LOFTID will inflate as it descends from low-Earth orbit. If all goes to plan, NASA says the technology could be used in future crew landing missions and for sending robotic missions to Mars and returning heavier payloads to Earth.
Those who followed coverage of NASA's Mars Perseverance rover mission will likely remember the mission lander'sbeing described as a heart-stopping "seven minutes of terror". During those critical moments, many of the mission's ground team feared the $2.7 billion rover might not make it down in one piece.
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