{"id":309439,"date":"2015-04-03T20:33:00","date_gmt":"2015-04-04T00:33:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?migration=converted-node-349400"},"modified":"2023-07-26T15:20:11","modified_gmt":"2023-07-26T19:20:11","slug":"low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-overview","status":"publish","type":"topic","link":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-overview\/","title":{"rendered":"Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"\" class=\" hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-secondary-navigation\"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-wrapper z-top width-100 padding-0\"><div id=\"\" class=\"hds-secondary-navigation width-full border-bottom-1px text-center hds-color-mode-light hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-hdsnav\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"hds-secondary-nav-mobile-button display-flex tablet:display-flex desktop:display-none width-full flex-align-center bg-carbon-90 border-color-carbon-80 color-spacesuit-white\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"hds-secondary-nav-track\"><span>TDM<\/span><svg width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><\/button><div class=\"hds-secondary-nav-track grid-container grid-container-extrawide padding-0 tablet:padding-x-3 desktop:padding-x-2 \"><div class=\"hds-secondary-navigation-menu-items\"><nav><ul class=\"usa-nav__primary usa-accordion flex-justify-center margin-0\"><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/\">TDM Home<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/about-tdm\/\">About<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"usa-accordion__button usa-nav__link\" aria-expanded=\"false\" aria-controls=\"basic-nav-section-one\"><span>Projects<\/span><svg class=\"hds-desktop-submenu-toggle-icon display-none tablet:display-none desktop:display-block\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\" enable-background=\"new 0 0 400 400\" viewBox=\"0 0 400 400\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path d=\"m4.2 122.2 195.1 195.1 196.5-196.6-37.9-38-157.8 157.8-156.8-156.8z\" \/><\/svg><svg class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon display-block tablet:display-block desktop:display-none\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" viewBox=\"0 0 16 16\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle cx=\"8\" cy=\"8\" r=\"7.5\" fill=\"#0B3D91\" stroke=\"white\"\/><rect x=\"4\" y=\"7.6001\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" fill=\"white\"\/><rect class=\"hds-mobile-submenu-toggle-icon-line-vertical\" x=\"7.59998\" y=\"12\" width=\"8\" height=\"0.8\" transform=\"rotate(-90 7.59998 12)\" fill=\"white\"\/><\/svg><\/button><ul id=\"basic-nav-section-one\" class=\"usa-nav__submenu\" hidden><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/technology-demonstration-missions-tdm\/#active\">Active Projects<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__submenu-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" target=\"_self\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/past-technology-demonstration-missions\/\">Past Projects <\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/technology-demonstration-missions-tdm-news\/\">TDM News<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/gallery\/technology-demonstration-missions-tdm\/\">Multimedia<\/a><\/li><li class=\"usa-nav__primary-item \"><a class=\"usa-nav__link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/about-tdm\/#media\">Media Resources<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t<div class=\"padding-0 bg-spacesuit-white wp-block-nasa-blocks-page-intro\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-page-intro hds-page-intro-banner width-full maxw-full padding-0 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet\">\n\t\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper display-flex\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto margin-bottom-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"page-heading-md line-height-sm color-spacesuit-white-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLow-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD)\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg color-carbon-30-important\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 desktop:padding-right-4 margin-bottom-3 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"2048\" height=\"1363\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?w=2048\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"Saucer-shaped supersonic decelerator suspended from rig against night sky\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg 4928w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=1536,1022 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=2048,1363 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=1200,799 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/18213870326_7043e0b38e_o.jpg?resize=2000,1331 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2048px) 100vw, 2048px\" loading=\"eager\" \/><\/figure>\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\n<p>As NASA plans ambitious new robotic missions to Mars, laying the groundwork for even more complex human science expeditions to come, the spacecraft needed to land safely on the red planet\u2019s surface necessarily becomes increasingly massive, hauling larger payloads to accommodate extended stays on the Martian surface.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Current technology for decelerating from the high speed of atmospheric entry to the final stages of landing on Mars dates back to NASA\u2019s Viking Program, which put two landers on Mars in 1976. The basic Viking parachute design has been used ever since \u2014 and was successfully used again in 2012 to deliver the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/msl\/index.html\">Curiosity rover<\/a> to Mars.<br> NASA seeks to use atmospheric drag as a solution, saving rocket engines and fuel for final maneuvers and landing procedures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The heavier planetary landers of tomorrow, however, will require much larger drag devices than any now in use to slow them down \u2014 and those next-generation drag devices will need to be deployed at higher supersonic speeds to safely land vehicle, crew and cargo. NASA\u2019s Low Density Supersonic Decelerators project, or LDSD, led by NASA\u2019s <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Jet Propulsion Laboratory<\/a> in Pasadena, California, will conduct full-scale, stratospheric tests of these breakthrough technologies high above Earth to prove their value for future missions to Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Real Martians Moment: Low Density Supersonic Decelerator\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/QjLkOZMUjOs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Three devices are being tested. The first two are supersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerators developed in 6-meter-diameter and 8-meter-diameter configurations. Both are very large, durable, balloon-like pressure vessels that inflate around the entry vehicle and slow it from Mach 3.5 or greater to Mach 2 or lower. Also developed and tested is a 30.5-meter-diameter parachute intended to further slow the entry vehicle from Mach 1.5 or Mach 2 to subsonic speeds. The chute tests incorporated two different designs: a disk sail, employing a single, durable piece of fabric; and a ring sail, a stronger, paneled variation sewn together in concentric rings on high-strength Kevlar material.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All three devices will be the largest of their kind ever flown at speeds several times greater than the speed of sound.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Together, these new drag devices can increase payload delivery to the surface of Mars from our current capability of 1.5 metric tons to 2 to 3 metric tons, depending on which inflatable decelerator is used in combination with the parachute. They will increase available landing altitudes by 2-3 kilometers, increasing the accessible surface area we can explore. They also will improve landing accuracy from a margin of 10 kilometers to just 3 kilometers. All these factors will increase the capabilities and robustness of robotic and human explorers on Mars.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To thoroughly test the system, the LDSD team will fly the drag devices several times \u2014 at full scale and at supersonic speeds \u2014 high in Earth\u2019s stratosphere, simulating entry into the atmosphere of Mars. The investigators conducted design verification tests of parachutes and supersonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerators through 2013. Supersonic flight tests were conducted in2014 and 2015 from the U.S. Navy Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. Additional development and testing is under consideration for 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"NASA Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD)\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/wsELEJEtRI0?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>The devices are expected to maximize the capability of current launch vehicles, and could be used in Mars missions launching as early as 2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The LDSD project is sponsored by NASA\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/directorates\/spacetech\/home\/index.html\">Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/a> and is managed by the <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jpl.nasa.gov\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Jet Propulsion Laboratory<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-card-grid padding-top-7 padding-bottom-3 padding-x-0 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-card-grid\">\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-card-grid-header grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-start margin-bottom-5\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"section-heading-sm line-height-sm\">LDSD News<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col display-flex flex-align-center desktop:flex-justify-end\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-card-grid-cards grid-container grid-container-block\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cards-included grid-row\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/getting-the-low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-vehicle-to-test-altitude\/\" class=\"hds-card-article-graphical hds-card-article hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content display-flex flex-column height-full padding-3\"><span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><svg class=\"square-2 margin-right-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"M8 0C3.5 0-.1 3.7 0 8.2.1 12.5 3.6 16 8 16s8-3.6 8-8c0-4.5-3.6-8-8-8zm0 15.2C4 15.2.8 12 .8 8S4 .8 8 .8c3.9 0 7.2 3.2 7.2 7.1 0 4-3.2 7.3-7.2 7.3z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6 12 8 9.6l2.4 2.4V4H5.6v8z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"label color-spacesuit-white-important\">Article<\/span><\/span><div class=\"width-full margin-top-auto\"><div class=\"label margin-bottom-2 color-spacesuit-white\">6 min read<\/div><div class=\"margin-bottom-0\"><h3 class=\"heading-18 line-height-lg color-spacesuit-white\">Getting the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) Vehicle to Test Altitude<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail hds-card-thumbnail-hover-grow\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-column z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?w=640\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg 3840w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=2048,1152 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/2014_ldsd_balloon_brodman.jpg?resize=2000,1125 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/missions\/tech-demonstration\/ldsd-testing-for-large-payloads-to-mars\/\" class=\"hds-card-article-graphical hds-card-article hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content display-flex flex-column height-full padding-3\"><span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><svg class=\"square-2 margin-right-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"M8 0C3.5 0-.1 3.7 0 8.2.1 12.5 3.6 16 8 16s8-3.6 8-8c0-4.5-3.6-8-8-8zm0 15.2C4 15.2.8 12 .8 8S4 .8 8 .8c3.9 0 7.2 3.2 7.2 7.1 0 4-3.2 7.3-7.2 7.3z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6 12 8 9.6l2.4 2.4V4H5.6v8z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"label color-spacesuit-white-important\">Article<\/span><\/span><div class=\"width-full margin-top-auto\"><div class=\"label margin-bottom-2 color-spacesuit-white\">4 min read<\/div><div class=\"margin-bottom-0\"><h3 class=\"heading-18 line-height-lg color-spacesuit-white\">LDSD Testing for Large Payloads to Mars<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail hds-card-thumbnail-hover-grow\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-column z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"853\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?w=640\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg 2448w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=225,300 225w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=768,1024 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=1152,1536 1152w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=1536,2048 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=300,400 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=450,600 450w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=675,900 675w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=900,1200 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/04\/ldsd-crane.jpg?resize=1500,2000 1500w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/?p=307363\" class=\"hds-card-article-graphical hds-card-article hds-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-5 mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-4 margin-bottom-6\"><div class=\"hds-card-inner\"><div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper z-300 display-flex flex-direction-column flex-align-end flex-justify-end\"><div class=\"hds-card-content display-flex flex-column height-full padding-3\"><span class=\"display-flex flex-align-center margin-right-2\"><svg class=\"square-2 margin-right-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\"><path d=\"M8 0C3.5 0-.1 3.7 0 8.2.1 12.5 3.6 16 8 16s8-3.6 8-8c0-4.5-3.6-8-8-8zm0 15.2C4 15.2.8 12 .8 8S4 .8 8 .8c3.9 0 7.2 3.2 7.2 7.1 0 4-3.2 7.3-7.2 7.3z\"\/><path d=\"M5.6 12 8 9.6l2.4 2.4V4H5.6v8z\"\/><\/svg><span class=\"label color-spacesuit-white-important\">Article<\/span><\/span><div class=\"width-full margin-top-auto\"><div class=\"label margin-bottom-2 color-spacesuit-white\">4 min read<\/div><div class=\"margin-bottom-0\"><h3 class=\"heading-18 line-height-lg color-spacesuit-white\">LDSD: We Brake for Mars<\/h3><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"hds-card-thumbnail hds-card-thumbnail-hover-grow\"><div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-column z-200\"><\/div><figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"426\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?w=640\" class=\"attachment-large size-large\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png 1353w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=900,599 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/06\/ldsd.png?resize=1200,799 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><\/div><\/div><\/a>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"width-full maxw-full bg-carbon-05 hds-cover-wrapper minh-tablet-lg hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-callout\">\n\t<div class=\"hds-foreground-wrapper padding-bottom-9 padding-top-9 display-flex\">\n\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-top-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-container grid-container-block margin-top-auto width-full maxw-desktop-lg padding-y-9 padding-x-3 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 z-400\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"page-heading-md font-weight-extrabold line-height-heading-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\">LDSD Completes Experimental Test Flight<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"p-lg margin-top-2 padding-0 margin-bottom-4 color-spacesuit-white-important\">Engineers are poring over the data following the second experimental landing technology test of NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/news-release\/nasas-ldsd-project-completes-second-experimental-test-flight\/\" target=\"_self\" class=\"button-primary  link-external-true\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"line-height-alt-1 color-spacesuit-white-important\" >\n\t\t\t\tLearn More                                    <span class=\"usa-sr-only\"> about LDSD Completes Experimental Test Flight<\/span>\n                \t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"button-primary-circle\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-12 desktop:grid-col-6 z-400\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-left mobile-skrim-top z-200\"><\/div>\n\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?w=1600\" class=\"attachment-2048x2048 size-2048x2048\" alt=\"NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 47% 15%; object-position: 47% 15%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-image-carousel grid-container grid-container-block padding-top-8 padding-bottom-8 hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-image-carousel\">\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"image-carousel-slider margin-0\" id=\"image-carousel-slider\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"457\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Two members of the U.S. Navy's Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 Explosive Ordnance Detachment work on recovering the test vehicle for NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project.\" style=\"transform: scale(1.2); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg 4747w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=300,214 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=768,549 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=1024,731 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=1536,1097 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=2048,1463 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=400,286 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=600,429 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=900,643 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=1200,857 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia19684.jpg?resize=2000,1429 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">150608-N-DT805-281 KAUAI, Hawaii (Jun. 8, 2015) Two members of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Diving Salvage Unit (MDSU) 1 Explosive Ordnance Detachment work on recovering the test vehicle for NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project. The saucer-shaped LDSD craft splashed down at 11:49 a.m. HST (2:49 PDT\/5:49 p.m. EDT) Monday, June 8, 2015, in the Pacific Ocean off the west coast of the Kauai, Hawaii, after a four-hour experimental flight test that investigated new technologies for landing future robotic and human Mars missions.\n\nDuring the flight test, a Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD) and a supersonic parachute were deployed. The SIAD operated as expected, dramatically slowing the test vehicle’s velocity. When the parachute was deployed into the supersonic slipstream, it appeared to blossom to full inflation prior to the emergence of a tear which then propagated and destroyed the parachute’s canopy. As a result, the saucer’s splashdown in the Pacific Ocean was hard, resulting in fracturing parts of the structure. \n\nMemory cards containing comprehensive test data — including high-speed, high-resolution imagery recorded during the flight — were successfully recovered. Also recovered were the test vehicle and its components, the supersonic parachute, the ballute used to deploy the parachute, and a large weather balloon that initially carried the saucer to an altitude of 120,000 feet.\n\nNASA’s Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the LDSD mission, a cooperative effort led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California. The Technology Demonstration Mission Program at NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages LDSD. NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, on Wallops Island, Virginia, coordinates range and safety support with PMRF and provides the balloon systems for the LDSD test.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">U.S. Navy<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator\" style=\"transform: scale(1.02); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg 1600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=768,432 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=1024,576 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=1536,864 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=400,225 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=900,506 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/12\/pia19343-ldsd1.jpg?resize=1200,675 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator before a test.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"500\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Project manager Mark Adler discusses the LDSD flight test\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg 1041w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg?resize=300,235 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg?resize=768,601 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg?resize=1024,801 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg?resize=400,313 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg?resize=600,469 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/03\/ldsd2.jpg?resize=900,704 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">On-site in Hawaii prior to launch, LDSD principal investigator Ian Clark, rear, watches as LDSD project manager Mark Adler discusses the flight test. Clark and Adler both work at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California, which led the LDSD project for the agency.<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD).\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg 3013w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=150,150 150w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=300,300 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=768,768 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=1024,1024 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=1536,1536 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=2048,2048 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=50,50 50w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=100,100 100w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=200,200 200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=400,400 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=600,600 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=900,900 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=1200,1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/06\/stmd_ldsd_2.jpg?resize=2000,2000 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) Project Manager Mark Adler, left, and JPL LDSD Project Principal investigator Ian Clark inspect the LDSD test vehicle, Thursday, May 28, 2015, at the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility (PMRF), in Kauai, Hawaii. Photo Credit: (NASA\/Bill Ingalls)<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"display-block width-full\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"margin-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-cover-wrapper hds-image-carousel-slide margin-bottom-2\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-media-wrapper margin-left-auto margin-right-auto\"><figure class=\"hds-media-inner hds-cover-wrapper hds-media-ratio-cover \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"361\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg\" class=\"attachment-full size-full\" alt=\"The Supersonic Disk Sail Parachute, one of the new technologies being developed as part of NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project, floats in the Pacific Ocean after the completion of its first flight test, on June 28, 2014.\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 40% 9%; object-position: 40% 9%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg 3010w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=300,169 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=768,433 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=1024,578 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=1536,866 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=2048,1155 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=400,226 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=600,338 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=900,508 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=1200,677 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/05\/pia18424-0.jpg?resize=2000,1128 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/figure><figcaption class=\"hds-caption padding-y-2\"><div class=\"hds-caption-text p-sm margin-0\">The Supersonic Disk Sail Parachute, one of the new technologies being developed as part of NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project, floats in the Pacific Ocean after the completion of its first flight test, on June 28, 2014. The test occurred off the coast of the U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. The photo was obtained by Navy divers during recovery of the LDSD test vehicle and parachute.<\/div><div class=\"hds-credits\">NASA<\/div><\/figcaption><\/div>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-carousel-nav display-flex margin-left-auto margin-right-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-prev\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M3.5,4.5l3.7-3.6L6.3,0L1.8,4.5L6.3,9l0.9-0.9L3.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"hds-carousel-nav-arrow hds-carousel-arrow-next margin-right-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<svg version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" x=\"0px\" y=\"0px\" width=\"9px\" height=\"9px\" viewBox=\"0 0 9 9\"><path class=\"st0\" d=\"M5.5,4.5L1.8,8.1L2.7,9l4.5-4.5L2.7,0L1.8,0.9L5.5,4.5z\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n<div id=\"\" class=\"hds-topic-cards nasa-gb-align-full maxw-full width-full padding-y-6 padding-x-3 color-mode-dark hds-module hds-module-full wp-block-nasa-blocks-topic-cards\">\t\t<div class=\"grid-container grid-container-block-lg padding-x-0\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row flex-align-center margin-bottom-3\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"desktop:grid-col-8 margin-bottom-2 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"label color-carbon-60 margin-bottom-2\">Keep Exploring<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"heading-36 line-height-sm\">Discover More Topics From NASA<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"grid-row grid-gap-2 hds-topic-cards-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/space-technology-mission-directorate\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Space Technology Mission Directorate<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"margin-bottom-0 margin-top-2 color-carbon-20-important\">Space Technology Mission Directorate. Technology drives exploration and the space economy.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"525\" height=\"800\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?w=525\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg 525w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=197,300 197w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=263,400 263w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/12\/stmd.jpg?resize=394,600 394w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 525px) 100vw, 525px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/stmd-solicitations-and-opportunities\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>STMD Solicitations and Opportunities<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1161\" height=\"773\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?w=1161\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg 1161w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=768,511 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=1024,682 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=400,266 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=600,399 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/03\/stmd-solicitations.jpg?resize=900,599 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1161px) 100vw, 1161px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/technology-transfer-spinoffs\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Technology Transfer & Spinoffs<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"985\" height=\"746\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png?w=985\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png 985w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png?resize=300,227 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png?resize=768,582 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png?resize=400,303 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png?resize=600,454 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/01\/spinoff_2023.png?resize=900,682 900w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 985px) 100vw, 985px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/\" class=\"mobile:grid-col-12 tablet:grid-col-6 desktop:grid-col-3 topic-card margin-bottom-4 desktop:margin-bottom-0\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"hds-topic-card hds-cover-wrapper cover-hover-zoom bg-carbon-black\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"skrim-overlay skrim-overlay-dark skrim-left mobile-skrim-top padding-3 display-flex flex-align-end flex-justify-start z-200\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"hds-topic-card-heading heading-29 color-spacesuit-white line-height-sm margin-top-0 margin-bottom-1\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span>Technology Demonstration Missions (TDM)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg viewBox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><circle class=\"color-nasa-red\" cx=\"16\" cy=\"16\" r=\"16\"><\/circle><path d=\"M8 16.956h12.604l-3.844 4.106 1.252 1.338L24 16l-5.988-6.4-1.252 1.338 3.844 4.106H8v1.912z\" class=\"color-spacesuit-white\"><\/path><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"hds-media-background  \"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1536\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?w=1536\" class=\"attachment-1536x1536 size-1536x1536\" alt=\"\" style=\"transform: scale(1); transform-origin: 50% 50%; object-position: 50% 50%; object-fit: cover;\" block_context=\"nasa-block\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg 4160w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=300,200 300w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=768,512 768w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=1024,683 1024w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=1536,1024 1536w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=2048,1365 2048w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=400,267 400w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=600,400 600w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=900,600 900w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=1200,800 1200w, https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/loftid-4_copy.jpg?resize=2000,1333 2000w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1536px) 100vw, 1536px\" \/><\/figure>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As NASA plans ambitious new robotic missions to Mars, laying the groundwork for even more complex human science expeditions to come, the spacecraft needed to land safely on the red planet\u2019s surface necessarily becomes increasingly massive, hauling larger payloads to accommodate extended stays on the Martian surface. Current technology for decelerating from the high speed […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":35,"featured_media":289043,"parent":165109,"menu_order":0,"template":"","meta":{"nasa_hds_core_meta_l10n":"en-US","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_editor":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_article_contacts":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_topic":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_linked_locations":[],"nasa_hds_core_meta_article_related_articles":[],"hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_id":"","hds_migrate_meta_pr_release_type":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_x":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_location_y":"","nasa_hds_core_meta_gallery_images":[]},"categories":[3335],"news-tags":[],"internal-terms":[],"coauthors":[3854,8379],"parsely":{"version":"1.1.0","meta":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@type":"WebPage","headline":"Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD)","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-overview\/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-overview\/"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/la-sci-sn-nasa-flying-saucer-ldsd-preview-20140626.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/la-sci-sn-nasa-flying-saucer-ldsd-preview-20140626.jpg"},"articleSection":"NASA Directorates","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"NASA"},{"@type":"Person","name":"Beth Ridgeway"}],"creator":["NASA","Beth Ridgeway"],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"NASA","logo":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/themes\/nasa\/assets\/images\/nasa-logo.svg"},"keywords":["NASA Directorates","Space Technology Mission Directorate","Technology Demonstration Missions Program"],"dateCreated":"2015-04-04T00:33:00Z","datePublished":"2015-04-04T00:33:00Z","dateModified":"2023-07-26T19:20:11Z"},"rendered":"<meta name=\"parsely-title\" content=\"Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD)\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-link\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/tdm\/low-density-supersonic-decelerator-ldsd-overview\/\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-type\" content=\"index\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-image-url\" content=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/la-sci-sn-nasa-flying-saucer-ldsd-preview-20140626.jpg?w=150&h=150&crop=1\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-pub-date\" content=\"2015-04-04T00:33:00Z\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-section\" content=\"NASA Directorates\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-tags\" content=\"NASA Directorates,Space Technology Mission Directorate,Technology Demonstration Missions Program\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"NASA\" \/>\n<meta name=\"parsely-author\" content=\"Beth Ridgeway\" \/>","tracker_url":"https:\/\/cdn.parsely.com\/keys\/nasa.gov\/p.js"},"read_time":3,"time_ago":"9 years","featured_image":{"id":289043,"file":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/04\/la-sci-sn-nasa-flying-saucer-ldsd-preview-20140626.jpg","title":"NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator","alt":"NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator","caption":"This image depicts the test vehicle for NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, or LDSD, which couldl help the space agency send heavier payloads to Mars."},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/309439"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/topic"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/35"}],"version-history":[{"count":13,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/309439\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":470493,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/309439\/revisions\/470493"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic\/165109"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/289043"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=309439"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=309439"},{"taxonomy":"news-tags","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/news-tags?post=309439"},{"taxonomy":"internal-terms","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/internal-terms?post=309439"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=309439"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}