LOFTID Recovery Underway

LOFTID landed close to the recovery ship. After assessing the situation, the crew aboard the Kahana-II have begun preparation for recovery operations, which will bring LOFTID aboard the vessel. NASA will post updates on the recovery process and the results of the demonstration as more information becomes available.

LOFTID Splashdown Confirmed

The LOFTID team has visually confirmed the heat shield’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean. Splashdown occurred a few minutes later than originally thought based on the expected mission timeline.

Additional updates will be provided over the next few days, as available.

Splashdown! LOFTID Set for Retrieval in the Pacific

LOFTID has splashed down in the Pacific Ocean hundreds of miles off the coast of Hawaii. Once the aeroshell’s location is determined, the recovery boat will head towards the aeroshell for attempted retrieval. Following retrieval, the team will recover the ejectable data recorder.

Additional updates will be provided over the next few days, as available.

LOFTID’s Parachutes Have Deployed

Teams confirmed the ejectable data recorder jettisoned and have received GPS data on its location.  LOFTID’s parachutes are expected to have deployed, preparing LOFTID for splashdown in less than 10 minutes.

End of LOFTID Technology Demonstration

According to the team’s predictions, LOFTID should have slowed down to Mach 0.7 — from a maximum speed of Mach 29 — marking the end of the demonstration and data collection. As LOFTID approaches splashdown in approximately 16 minutes, the ejectable data module will jettison and the parachute will deploy.

LOFTID Reaches Maximum Re-entry Heating

Over the past few minutes, LOFTID’s thermal protection system should have reached maximum re-entry heating, and the inflatable structure should have reached maximum re-entry pressure load.

LOFTID is only sending limited real-time data during the demonstration. Full data, including the maximum heating and pressure load experienced, will be confirmed after landing and recovery.

LOFTID Re-entry Begins

LOFTID returns to Earth
LOFTID is fully inflated as it begins it re-entry. 

The team was able to visually confirm full inflation of the re-entry vehicle. LOFTID is now estimated to be at about 78 miles in altitude, the point the LOFTID team considers the start of atmospheric re-entry.

LOFTID Aeroshell Fully Inflated; Re-entry in 25 Minutes

At this time, the aeroshell should have reached a full inflation pressure of 19 psi. LOFTID is only sending limited real-time data during the demonstration. Full data, including confirmation of the final inflation pressure, will be confirmed after landing and recovery.

LOFTID is now coasting toward the atmosphere and re-entry is expected to start in approximately 25 minutes.

LOFTID Separates From Centaur Upper Stage

After orienting LOFTID to an acceptable separation angle, Centaur spun up and released the re-entry vehicle. Spinning at three rotations per minute keeps the LOFTID vehicle stable and pointed in the right throughout re-entry.

LOFTID’S Aeroshell Inflates

NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) heat shield inflates in orbit before its re-entry and splashdown on Thursday, Nov. 10.
NASA’s Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) heat shield inflates in orbit before its re-entry and splashdown on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Credits: NASA

Aeroshell inflation has started. Once the aeroshell reaches four pounds per square inch (psi) of pressure, Centaur will begin positioning LOFTID for re-entry.