NASA's 'Flying Saucer' Readies for First Test Flight

Test finally underway today Saturday, June 28, 5pm ET. Being broadcast live
now on the NASA TV channel and streamed live he

http://ustream.tv/NASAJPL2


Bob Clark


================================================== ================================
"Robert Clark" wrote in message
...

On Tuesday, June 3, 2014 7:47:43 AM UTC-4, Jeff Findley wrote:
In article ,

says...

June 2, 2014

NASA's 'Flying Saucer' Readies for First Test Flight

NASA's flying saucer-shaped test vehicle is ready to take to the skies
from
the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii, for its
first engineering shakeout flight.

The first launch opportunity for the test vehicle is June 3, when the
launch
window opens at 8:30 a.m. HST. The test will be carried live on NASA TV
and
streamed on the Web. The Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) will
gather data about landing heavy payloads on Mars and other planetary
surfaces.

...
Now *this* is exactly the sort of R&D NASA should be doing. This is
cutting edge technology which, if successfully developed, will enable
landing heavy payloads on Mars. Without this sort of technology (or
something like it), a manned mission to the surface of Mars just won't
be possible.
I'm much less impressed with technology like VASMIR since that is *not*
needed for a manned Mars mission. Sure, it might be "nice to have", but
it's not *necessary*.

Jeff

--

Unfortunately this test had to be postponed due to weather:

Monday, June 2, 2nd Update
June 2, 2014 - 5:30 PM EDT
"Due to weather conditions, there will be no launch of the LDSD test vehicle
tomorrow. Other potential launch dates include June 5, 7, 9, 11, and 14.
Launch decision for Thursday, June 5 will be made on Wednesday, June 4.
Check back with us for updates."
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/td.../#.U43K-fldXbh

BTW, heads up to NASA could you also give the test time in EDT so the rest
of us not on Hawaii time will know when to watch it?

Bob Clark
================================================== ================================

In article ,
says...

Test finally underway today Saturday, June 28, 5pm ET. Being broadcast live
now on the NASA TV channel and streamed live he

http://ustream.tv/NASAJPL2

Spaceref has an article on the test saying it was successful. Congrats
to the team that built and flew this demonstrator!

The article also says that more tests are planned:

"This test was the first of three planned for the LDSD
project, developed to evaluate new landing technologies
for future Mars missions."

Jeff
--
"the perennial claim that hypersonic airbreathing propulsion would
magically make space launch cheaper is nonsense -- LOX is much cheaper
than advanced airbreathing engines, and so are the tanks to put it in
and the extra thrust to carry it." - Henry Spencer