The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has postponed the launch of one of its high-altitude balloons because of unstable water conditions in the Pacific Ocean.
The test vehicle, known as the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD), is part of NASA's efforts in testing technologies that could be used for future explorations on Mars. It features an inflatable device called Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator and a parachute that is capable of withstanding supersonic wind speeds.
According to NASA, the current condition of the seas in Hawaii has made it difficult to launch the LDSD. They said the height of the waves is not suitable for the safe recovery of the test vehicle once it splashes down in the Pacific Ocean.
Before this, the space agency has had to postpone the test flight of the LDSD twice because of unfavorable ocean conditions.
NASA first launched the Low Density Supersonic Decelerator in June 2014 at the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range in Kauai, Hawaii. The helium balloon attached to the LDSD lifted the test vehicle up to 120,000 feet in the air, after which its rocket pushed its payload another 60,000 feet.
The LDSD was able to reach altitudes in the stratosphere that had similar conditions to the Martian atmosphere.
During decelerator's descent, however, its 110-foot-wide parachute was shredded when it was deployed. This caused the test vehicle to hit the water of the Pacific Ocean harder than what NASA had anticipated.
Despite this, members of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory team were still able to collect vital flight information and the test launch for the LDSD was deemed a success. The scientists were able to apply several modifications to the decelerator's design.
"It's a much stronger, much more robust parachute," Ian Clark, lead researcher for the LDSD project, said.
The Jet Propulsion Laboratory team is now preparing for another round of data collection this year.
"This year's test is centered on how our newly-designed supersonic parachute will perform," Mark Adler, NASA's project manager for the LDSD, said.
"We think we have a great design ready for the challenge, but the proof is in the pudding and the pudding will be made live for everyone to see."
The next schedule for the LDSD test flight is set for Wednesday, June 3.
