Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator [LOFTID] (NASA)

[Grey Havoc]

NASA Launched an Inflatable Flying Saucer, Then Landed It in the Ocean - Slashdot

On Thursday morning, NASA sent a giant inflatable device to space and then brought it back down from orbit, splashing in the ocean near Hawaii. From a report: You might think of it as a bouncy castle from space, although the people in charge of the mission would prefer you did not. "I would say...

science.slashdot.org

Heat shield that could land humans on Mars is hitching a ride to space | CNN

When a polar satellite designed to improve weather forecasting launched early Thursday, an experimental heat shield tagged along. It could land humans on Mars.

edition.cnn.com

https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/atoms/files/loftid_fact_sheet_layout_090922_508.pdf

 

[Grey Havoc]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZlFiv3IKJM

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wIJxl6_gHhs

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H_F8pZ774P4

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6IbqNFHcuU



Space News story from yesterday:

Atlas launch to test inflatable heat shield - SpaceNews

A payload hitching a ride on the launch of a weather satellite will demonstrate a technology for future Mars landings and rocket reusability.

spacenews.com

 

[Grey Havoc]

NASA's Inflatable Heat Shield That Could Land Humans on Mars Goes for Wild Test Ride

The Loftid inflatable heat shield took a test ride from low-Earth orbit down to the Pacific Ocean.

www.cnet.com

 

[BlackBat242]

Bouncy castle from space!!!

 

[Grey Havoc]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xcm47AM3s-Q

 

[Grey Havoc]

LOFTID inflatable heat shield test a success, early results show

Washington DC (SPX) Nov 21, 2022 - NASA's Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator, or LOFTID, launched on Nov. 10, 2022, to demonstrate inflatable heat shield technology that could be key to landing humans on Mars.

www.spacedaily.com

 

[TomcatViP]

What a great achievement. And let's remember that this idea started as a personal recovery foldable vehicle for early astronauts in the early 60's.

 

[Grey Havoc]

View: https://youtu.be/-ZkYj6sub0U

 

[NMaude]

I wonder if SpaceX is considering the use of this technology to make recoverable and reusable versions of the Falcon 9's second-stage?