How Are Spacecraft Decelerated? Insights from a NASA Technologist

For years, engineers have relied on rigid heat shields and retropropulsion as steadfast methods for slowing down spacecraft. However, NASA is now pushing the boundaries by testing a novel inflatable heat shield technology. This innovation holds the potential to revolutionize our ability to transport larger payloads to planets with atmospheres. Learn more about this breakthrough at https://www.nasa.gov/loftid.

Scheduled for launch on November 1 via a United Launch Alliance Atlas V rocket, alongside NOAA's JPSS-2 mission, is the Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID). This ambitious mission aims to showcase the inflatable heat shield's remarkable capability to decelerate and survive the challenging atmospheric entry. Delve into the details of this cutting-edge endeavor at https://go.nasa.gov/3N7yzBG.

Producers: Scott Bednar, Jessica Wilde
Editor: Daniel Salazar
Credit: NASA

Stay tuned as NASA continues to shape the future of spacecraft technology, enhancing our journey into the cosmos.

Tags: #NASA #SpaceTechnology #SpacecraftInnovation #HeatShield #InflatableTechnology #AerospaceAdvancements #SpaceExploration