Fig. 7.9 The NASA Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) hangs from a launch
tower at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, prior to launch.
The saucer-shaped vehicle was to test two devices for landing heavy payloads on Mars:
an inflatable donut-shaped device and a supersonic parachute. The launch tower helps to
link the test vehicle to the balloon. Once the balloon floats up, the test vehicle is released
from the tower and the balloon carries it to the desired altitude. The test vehicle’s rocket
then fires to take it to the top of the stratosphere, where the supersonic test begins. It was
launched on June 8, 2015. Photo courtesy of NMSU News Center
deployed the parachute, and a large Raven Aerostar ZPB with a volume of 1.12
million m
2
(39.57 million ft
3
) that carried the LDSD to an altitude of 36.6 km
(120,000 ft) for the test.
7.4 Instrument and Technology Development 163
tower at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, prior to launch.
The saucer-shaped vehicle was to test two devices for landing heavy payloads on Mars:
an inflatable donut-shaped device and a supersonic parachute. The launch tower helps to
link the test vehicle to the balloon. Once the balloon floats up, the test vehicle is released
from the tower and the balloon carries it to the desired altitude. The test vehicle’s rocket
then fires to take it to the top of the stratosphere, where the supersonic test begins. It was
launched on June 8, 2015. Photo courtesy of NMSU News Center
deployed the parachute, and a large Raven Aerostar ZPB with a volume of 1.12
million m
2
(39.57 million ft
3
) that carried the LDSD to an altitude of 36.6 km
(120,000 ft) for the test.
7.4 Instrument and Technology Development 163