June 5, 2015

Bad weather delays NASA 'flying saucer' launch again

A NASA artist's concept shows the test vehicle for NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator(LDSD), or flying saucer, designed t
A NASA artist's concept shows the test vehicle for NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator(LDSD), or flying saucer, designed to test landing technologies for future Mars missions

The test launch of a NASA flying saucer equipped with a supersonic parachute that may one day help spacecraft land on Mars was postponed again Friday due to bad weather.

The reason for the scrub was "unstable wind conditions near the surface that would prevent the launch," NASA said, adding it would assess chances for the next possible launch, on Saturday.

If conditions improve, the test flight of the flying saucer, known as the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, will be broadcast live on NASA's website beginning at 1:30 pm (1730 GMT).

If not, the US space agency has until June 12 to try again. Should no dates in June work out, weather-wise, another opens in July.

© 2015 AFP

Citation: Bad weather delays NASA 'flying saucer' launch again (2015, June 5) retrieved 22 December 2024 from https://phys.org/news/2015-06-bad-weather-nasa-saucer.html
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