HIAD: Changing the way we explore other worlds

Slowing spacecraft as they descend into planetary bodies' atmospheres and then land safely on the surface has been crucial to NASA since spacecraft first lifted off Earth in the late 1950s. The Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator, or HIAD, is being developed by NASA's Langley Research Center to decelerate spacecraft from the hypersonic speeds at which they travel when in space as they enter planetary atmospheres.

HIAD is an inflatable technology that resembles a giant cone of inner tubes similar to a child's stacking ring. A prototype version of the device recently underwent structural loads testing in the Flight Loads Laboratory at NASA's Armstrong Flight Research Center, Edwards, CA.

The 4-minute, 6-second video includes final compression and torsion buckle testing of the HIAD in NASA Armstrong's Flight Loads Lab and comments about the development and loads testing from project officials.

For more on the HIAD and its loads testing, visit:

For more on the capabilities of NASA Armstrong's Flight Loads Lab, visit:

[Declan-pgcg]

I would love to have seen NASA continue this work.

[panipanceelnendertal]

was it a or a+? and if a+ what was learned? thx

[cavereric]

Are they saying DragonV2 or similar craft will not work? 

[xlxlxl]

Dear NASA, please deinterlace your videos!