NASA's flying saucer, aka the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, paves the way for landing heavy sp - TomoNews

NASA was forced to cancel six attempted launches of a saucer-shaped Mars landing test vehicle in early June because of unusually strong winds at the Hawaiian test site. NASA has developed the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, a 3,048 kg flight vehicle, with a view to overcoming the obstacles of a Martian landing.The vehicle is launched by a helium balloon, which will ascend to 36,600 metres. "We cannot have very high winds near the ground so that the balloon is able to be launched and not be damaged by the winds," said Mark Adler, project manager of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, in an interview with Space.com. "We also have to have conditions where the higher level winds take the balloon away from populated areas." After reaching altitude, the balloon is detached from the craft, which will continue its ascent by igniting solid-fuel engines. When the vehicle reaches 54,800 metres, it will be travelling at a maximum speed of Mach 4. As it slows down from Mach 4 to Mach 3.8, it will deploy a device called a supersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator, which resembles an inflatable hula hoop, slowing the speed from Mach 3.8 to Mach 2.5. A 30.5-metre diameter parachute will then be deployed to further slow down the flight vehicle on its way back to Earth. If all things go well, the vehicle will be recovered in the Pacific Ocean off Hawaii. After the successful landing of Curiosity in 2012, NASA's next goal is to place heavier spacecraft and eventually astronauts on the red planet's surface. It presents a huge challenge as the atmosphere on Mars is about 100 times thinner than Earth, meaning that it cannot provide sufficient resistance to slow down a spacecraft for a safe landing.