NASA Coverage for Saucer-Shaped Test Vehicle Flight

Asaucer-shaped test vehicle holding equipment for landing large payloads on Mars is shown in theMissile Assembly Building at the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kaua'i, Hawaii. ImageCredit: NASA/JPL-Caltech

� Full image and caption

May 29, 2014

NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project will fly a rocket-powered, saucer-shaped test vehicle into near-space next week from the U.S. Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility inKauai, Hawaii.

On Monday, June 2, a televised news conference about the test will be held at the PMRF at 8 a.m.Hawaii Standard Time (11 a.m. Pacific Daylight Time/2 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time).

Briefing panelists include:

-- U.S. Navy Capt. Bruce Hay, PMRF Commanding Officer

-- Mike Gazarik, associate administrator of the Space Technology Mission Directorate at NASAHeadquarters, Washington

--Mark Adler, LDSD project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena,California

--Ian Clark, LDSD principal investigatorat JPL

NASA has identified six potential datesfor launch of the high-altitude ballooncarrying the LDSD experiment: June 3, 5,7, 9, 11 and 14. Decisions to attemptlaunch of the LDSD test will be made theday before each launch opportunity date.NASA will issue launch advisories via themission website, advisories and onTwitter at:

https://twitter.com/NASA_Technology

and

https://twitter.com/NASA

On launch attempt days, journalists are invited to PMRF to watch the liftoff and flight of the ballooncarrying the LDSD. June 3 is the first launch attempt day, with a launch window extending from 8 to9:30 a.m. HST (11 to 12:30 PDT/2 to 3:30 EDT).

NASA's LDSD carries several onboard cameras. It is expected that video of selected portions,including the rocket-powered ascent, will be downlinked live and streamed live to NASA TV andonline.

The public may watch the news conference on June 2, and the balloon launch and subsequent test onJune 3, on NASA TV or on the Web at:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

and

http://www.ustream.tv/nasajpl2

Live commentary is expected to begin at 7:45 a.m. Hawaii Standard Time (10:45 a.m. PDT/1:45 p.m.EDT). For NASA TV streaming video, downlink and updated scheduling information, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/nasatv

After the balloon reaches an altitude of 120,000 feet, the rocket-powered test vehicle will bedropped. Seconds later, its motor will fire, carrying it to 180,000 feet and as fast as about Mach 3.8.

More information about the LDSD space technology demonstration mission is online at:

cheap first class flights

http://go.usa.gov/kzZQ

NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the LDSD mission, a cooperative effort led byJPL. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages LDSD within theTechnology Demonstration Mission Program Office. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in WallopsIsland, Virginia, is coordinating support with the Pacific Missile Range Facility and providing theballoon systems for the LDSD test.

For more information about the Space Technology Mission Directorate, visit:

http://www.nasa.gov/spacetech

David Steitz

NASA Headquarters, Washington

202-236-5829

david.steitz@nasa.gov

DC Agle

Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

818-393-9011

agle@jpl.nasa.gov

Stefan Alford

Pacific Missile Range Facility, Kauai, Hawaii

808-335-4740

stefan.alford@navy.mil

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