Inflatable spacecraft heat shield ready to launch

Researchers from NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., will launch and deploy a large inflatable heat shield aboard a rocket traveling at hypersonic speeds during a technology demonstration test from the agency's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va.
The test is designed to demonstrate that lightweight, yet strong, inflatable structures may become practical tools for exploration of other worlds or a way to safely return items from the International Space Station to Earth. During this technology demonstration test flight, NASA's Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) payload will try to come through Earth's atmosphere at hypersonic speeds -- Mach 5, or 3,800 to 7,600 mph.

[@GoogleAccount-ne2jh]

This is awesome!

[@roidroid]

this is such a kickass concept. imma gonna go look for ALL THE FOOTAGE

[@slydesplaylists]

the front end sensors, could route some monitoring for an outer ring backup for better stabile flexibility if there's any doubt. Also emit a cover signal to confuse enemy threats but well thats well rude. Still would look into graphine multilarering for internal fibre optical control. It looks ok for now.

[@zero00tolerance]

nice ! funny how the CGI inflatable is always better than the real life thing.

[@slydesplaylists]

mini probes would be needed for the numbers once we get outsystem? we just counter hypervortals with the supercritical lube and the control rods some micron wiring? hell you might even have better bp carshields.

[@EthanNin0]

A rigid heat shield can also fail.

[@EarlGreyBeatz]

That's true.