Practice Makes a Supersonic Decelerator Launch Perfect

Practice! Practice! Practice! That’s what it takes for the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) team to be ready for the June 2 launch attempt of a rocket-powered, saucer-shaped test vehicle into near-space from the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii. Test success requires an intricate set of events, including use of a high-altitude balloon, rocket engines, an aeroshell and multiple supersonic decelerators.

On May 26, teams gathered at their respective stations to run through the launch day timeline to ensure a safe and successful launch. This exercise is one in a series of simulations planned to practice launch events and identify issues early. A full mission dress rehearsal will be held within the next several days to finalize test  procedures before launch day.

LDSD being lifted by the static launch tower as part of today's training exercise.
LDSD being lifted by the static launch tower as part of today’s training exercise.
Test vehicle rollout from the Missile Assembly Building at PMRF.
Test vehicle roll out from the Missile Assembly Building at PMRF.

The LDSD crosscutting technology demonstration mission will test breakthrough entry, descent and landing technologies that will enable large payloads to be landed safely on the surface of Mars. The technologies will not only enable landing of larger payloads on Mars, but also allow access to more of the planet’s surface by enabling landings at higher altitude sites and with improved accuracy.

Author: Kim Newton

NASA's Low Density Supersonic Decelerator project will be flying a rocket-powered, saucer-shaped test vehicle into near-space this June from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF) on Kauai, Hawaii. The LDSD crosscutting demonstration mission will test breakthrough technologies that will enable large payloads to be safely landed on the surface of Mars, or other planetary bodies with atmospheres, including Earth. These new technologies will not only allow for landing of larger payloads on Mars, but also provide access to much more of the planet's surface by enabling landings at higher altitude sites. The mission continues to demonstrate how technology drives exploration on our journey to Mars, as we test these tools here on Earth right now.