Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator
Artist's rendering of LDSD test vehicle in flight | |
| Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
|---|---|
| Country of origin | United States |
| Operator | NASA |
| Applications | Technology demonstrator |
| Specifications | |
| Spacecraft type | Hypercone |
| Launch mass | 3,120 kg (6,878 lb) |
| Dimensions | Diameter: 4.7 m (15 ft 5 in) |
| Regime | Suborbital |
| Production | |
| Status | In production |
| On order | 0 |
| Built | 3 |
| Launched | 2 |
| Maiden launch | June 28, 2014 |
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.