National Aeronautics and Space Administration Technology Demonstration Missions Program The Bridge Summer 2015 NASA’s LDSD Project Completes The Low Density Supersonic Decelerator test vehicle’s onboard rocket motor is firing in this still captured from an in-flight video Second Experimental Test Flight recording. The trailing parachute can be seen at the far right. (NASA) From a NASA news release Engineers continue to pore over data robotic missions, as well as human Fourteen seconds after SIAD inflation, obtained during the June 8 flight test precursor missions to the Red Planet.” the test vehicle’s second braking tech- of NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic nology — a 100-foot-wide Supersonic Decelerator project. The directorate funds the project as part Ringsail parachute, the largest of NASA’s Technology Demonstration supersonic chute ever flown — was suc- During the flight, the LDSD project team Missions Program, which at the time of cessfully released. Preliminary analysis of tested two decelerator technologies that this writing anticipated analysis of the imagery and other data received during could enable larger payloads to land vehicle and flight data to continue for the test indicates the chute deployed, safely on the surface of Mars, and allow several months. then began to generate large amounts of access to more of the planet’s surface by drag. A tear appeared in the canopy at assisting landings at higher-altitude sites. A high-altitude balloon carrying the sau- about the time it was fully inflated. cer-shaped LDSD test vehicle launched “Developing and demonstrating entry, the morning of the flight test from the The LDSD craft splashed down in the descent and landing technologies such U.S. Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility Pacific Ocean off the west coast of Kauai. as supersonic decelerators is critical to on the Hawaiian island of Kauai. After enabling our journey to Mars,” said Steve nearly four hours of ascent, the vehicle “Early indications are that we got what Jurczyk, associate administrator for the separated as planned from the balloon we came for: new and actionable data Space Technology Mission Directorate at about 120,000 feet above the ocean. on our parachute design,” said Mark NASA Headquarters. “The technologies An onboard rocket motor then took the Adler, LDSD project manager at NASA’s tested on LDSD are giving us data and vehicle to 180,000 feet, where the first Jet Propulsion Laboratory, during a insight into the capabilities we’ll need to braking technology, the Supersonic post-flight news conference. land more mass than we currently can Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, on Mars, which will enable more capable deployed at about Mach 3. …continued on p. 2 Q&A: Meet TDM Program Manager Larry Gagliano In April, Larry Gagliano was named earned a bachelor’s degree in aerospace Space Station in a manager of NASA’s Technology engineering there. He also received a succession of pay- Demonstration Missions program at master’s degree in technical manage- load engineering NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center. ment in 2000 from the Florida Institute and management “Bridge” editor Rick Smith recently sat of Technology in Huntsville. He joined roles, including chief engineer for the down with him to discuss his NASA NASA in 1988 as a mechanical engineer space station’s Microgravity Glovebox experience, his managerial style and his in Marshall’s Propulsion Laboratory, and and program integration lead for the expectations for TDM. went on to train Spacelab astronauts Node 2 and Node 3 elements, which and work on Hubble Space Telescope became the station’s “Harmony” and A 1987 graduate of the University of repair missions. For the bulk of his “Tranquility” modules, respectively. Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Gagliano career, he supported the International …continued on p. 7 NASA’s LDSD Project LDSD Flight Test Reflects Nationwide Teamwork Completes Second By Rick Smith Experimental Test When NASA’s Low-Density Supersonic Partners nationwide — and beyond Decelerator test vehicle flew high over The LDSD project is led by program Flight…continued from p. 1 the Pacific Ocean June 8 to test two manager Mark Adler and principal innovative aerobraking technologies (see investigator Ian Clark at NASA’s Jet The flight test was the second for the cover story), it did so thanks to the tenac- Propulsion Laboratory. It is supported project. The first was held in June 2014 ity and ingenuity of workers at a host of by NASA’s Marshall Space Flight Center, at the same Hawaiian test facility. NASA facilities, military installations and which manages the project as part of specialized companies that very nearly the Technology Demonstration Missions “The physics involved with LDSD are stretches from sea to shining sea. program for NASA’s Space Technology so cutting-edge we learn something Mission Directorate. profound every time we test,” said Ian The LDSD flight tested breakthrough Clark, principal investigator for the proj- technologies for landing future robotic NASA’s Wallops Flight Facility, operated ect at JPL. “Going into this year’s flight, I and human missions on Mars and by NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, wanted to see that the parachute opened safely returning large payloads to Earth. is home to the agency’s Balloon Program further than it did last year before it Researchers lofted the test vehicle off Office, which played a crucial role in pre- began to rupture. The limited data set the coast of Hawaii via a large NASA paring the balloon to lift the LDSD test we have at present indicates we may not scientific balloon. A powerful rocket vehicle into the stratosphere. Wallops only have gone well down the road to full then boosted it to the edge of space also assisted with the launch, in tandem inflation, but we may have achieved it.” before sending it hurtling toward the with the Columbia Scientific Balloon ocean below — simulating the supersonic Facility, and with communications, range speeds at which the craft would travel safety and recovery operations. JPL also through Mars’ atmosphere. turned to NASA’s Ames Research Center, NASA’s Langley Research Center and The flight test was a crucial milestone for Marshall for wind tunnel testing, aerody- proving two key technologies: a super- namics modeling and subscale testing, sonic inflatable aerodynamic decelerator, rocket plume thermal analysis and flight or SIAD, a balloon-like vessel designed dynamics support prior to flight testing. to inflate around a vehicle and slow its entry; and a state-of-the-art supersonic Wallops’ balloon specialists helped parachute. The groundbreaking nature guide design and delivery of the scien- of these technologies — and the unique tific balloon and oversaw the balloon challenges faced by the investigators launch. Wallops and Columbia person- seeking to test them in flight — is why nel coordinated its flight with the U.S. NASA called upon such a widespread Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility, Two members of the U.S. Navy’s Mobile Diving team for the job. the designated launch site in Hawaii. Salvage Unit 1 Explosive Ordnance Detachment work to recover the LDSD test vehicle. (NASA) Clark also noted the successful inflation of the SIAD and deployment and inflation of the supersonic ballute — an inflatable drag device that extracts the parachute. “Both of those devices have now had two great flights,” he said, “and we have matured them to the point where they can be used, with confidence, on future missions. “We’re not just pushing the envelope,” he added. “We flew a 7,000-pound test vehicle right through it.” For more about the teams involved in making the LDSD flight test happen, see the related story on page 2. The test vehicle is suspended beneath the static launch tower during a May 29 rehearsal. (Image: NASA/Bill Ingalls) 2 A number of commercial firms provided The Hawaii Resource Group, under personnel,” Adler said. “It also had the critical technologies and capabilities. The contract to Wallops, provided recovery right conditions — a proper light sea SIAD used in this test flight was built for vessels — from among locally owned breeze in the mornings near the surface, NASA by ILC Dover, while the supersonic and operated fishing and commercial yet stiff winds higher up to send our parachute — the largest ever con- ships — to retrieve the test vehicle after balloon out over the sea. It was almost structed — was built by Zodiac Parachute splashdown. And in keeping with NASA’s perfectly situated for our mission.” & Protection America (formerly Pioneer commitment to environmentally friendly Aerospace Corporation). A second SIAD practices, the Hawaiian firm Pacific Farm The Wallops team worked with the Navy and a backup parachute, the latter of Services will recycle the spent balloon. facility to put in place special meteo- which may be test-flown in 2016, were rology equipment and communications built by Airborne Systems. “We’ve done things nobody has ever systems prior to the first LDSD flight test done before,” said Clark, reflecting on in 2014. The Columbia Scientific Balloon the roster of participants in the work. Facility, under contract to Wallops, “We turned to every potential resource “has decades of experience in building, we could think of. It’s crucial in cases launching and flying these enormous like this to harness the talents, skills and helium balloons,” Adler said. “They also knowledge base of experts across the provided world-class meteorologists for agency and outside the agency. You look weather forecasting, which was essential for expertise wherever it’s available.” to knowing when it was both possible and safe to launch.” The path to flight With a successful series of design stud- Reaping the rewards ies, fabrication of test articles and ground How does Adler sum up the teamwork tests behind the team, the search began that helped reach this latest milestone? for a way to launch the test vehicle to the “When you start a project like this, you proper altitude.