NASA is requsting proposals for provision of a supersonic stacked toroid Inflatable decelerator model for its fundamental aeronautics programme supersonics and hypersonic projectsThe above image shows NASA's design for a supersonic stacked toroid inflatable decelerator model. The delivered model will be tested in a supersonic wind tunnel at Ames Research Center and Glenn Reseach Center for the space agency's fundamental aeronautics programme supersonics and hypersonic projects that is researching the slowing down of large spacecraft, which could be pre-deployed assets for a Martian base or a manned descent vehicle, in the supersonic speed regime as they enter planetary atmospheres
on July 17, 2009 7:30 AM | Reply
We're not going to be able to land large payloads on Mars or humans without toroid decelerators. So I'm glad NASA is taking this seriously.
on July 17, 2009 9:52 AM | Reply
I cant put it anywhere right now, but I swear that I have seen this before. It could have been the guys at TGV, but their solution for the Michelle B is to different. Anyone her with a better memory than me?
on July 18, 2009 2:31 AM | Reply
You are maybe thinking of the hypercone?
on July 19, 2009 8:34 AM | Reply
balloon + parachute = ballute.
I'm not sure that we would need ballutes vs a large traditional heat shields to land large payloads on Mars but I'm glad to see this on NASA's radar.
on July 19, 2009 9:25 AM | Reply
NASA's experts have told me that they will need ballutes. Mars' atmosphere is thin enough that it won't help enough to slow you down but thick enough to generate lots of heat on entry. For very large manned or habitat payloads landed unmanned they will need to use everything, ballutes, decelerators, parachutes and retro rockets. Airbags have a size limit and they will be no good for very large payloads like ascent vehicles and habitats.