page_title: Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator
hierarchical_section_title: Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator
caption_attribution_description: English: This artist's concept shows the test vehicle for NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD), designed to test landing technologies for future Mars missions. A balloon will lift the vehicle to high altitudes, where a rocket will take it even higher, to the top of the stratosphere, at several times the speed of sound. The Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator Project is managed by JPL for NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate in Washington. Français&#160;: Vue d'artiste du vol du démonstrateur de la NASA Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) juin
context_page_description: The Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator or LDSD is a reentry vehicle designed to test techniques for atmospheric entry on Mars. The disc-shaped LDSD uses an inflatable structure called the Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, which is essentially a donut-shaped balloon, to create atmospheric drag in order to decelerate the vehicle before deploying a large supersonic parachute. The goal of the $230 m project is to develop a reentry system capable of landing 2- to 3-ton payloads on Mars, as opposed to the 1-ton limit of the currently used systems.
  The vehicle is being developed and tested by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Mark Adler is the project manager.
  The vehicle was tested in 2014 and 2015.
context_section_description: The Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator or LDSD is a reentry vehicle designed to test techniques for atmospheric entry on Mars. The disc-shaped LDSD uses an inflatable structure called the Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (SIAD), which is essentially a donut-shaped balloon, to create atmospheric drag in order to decelerate the vehicle before deploying a large supersonic parachute. The goal of the $230 m project is to develop a reentry system capable of landing 2- to 3-ton payloads on Mars, as opposed to the 1-ton limit of the currently used systems.
  The vehicle is being developed and tested by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Mark Adler is the project manager.
  The vehicle was tested in 2014 and 2015.
caption: Artist's rendering of LDSD test vehicle in flight
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