NASA Postpones Launch Test of Saucer Shaped Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator

Posted on June 12, 2014

NASA has postponed a test of its flying saucer shaped Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD). NASA had planned to conduct a test flight of the LDSD from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range in Kauai, Hawaii. Unfortunately, the weather is not cooperating.

Mark Adler, the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator project manager, says in a statement, "There were six total opportunities to test the vehicle, and the delay of all six opportunities was caused by weather. We needed the mid-level winds between 15,000 and 60,000 feet to take the balloon away from the island. While there were a few days that were very close, none of the days had the proper wind conditions."

NASA says its team researchers winds around the world and determined that Kauai offered the best wind conditions for a test flight. NASA says, "Recent weather conditions have been unexpected and have caused unacceptable wind conditions to launch the balloon."

Here are two NASA videos explaining how the LDSD could help NASA land bigger payloads on Mars and how they plan to test the LDSD here on Earth. Take a look:

Photo: Mars

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