NASA heat shield rocket returns to Earth after successful launch
NASA rocket landing with inflatable heat shield for spacecraft is a success says agency.
NASA says that an experimental heat shield has descended to Earth without issue after launch on Monday.
The rocket equipped with the Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE-3) was launched from the Wallops Flight Facility in Virginia on Monday morning and successfully landed in the evening on the North Carolina coast.
According to the Associated Press, the IRVE-3 separated from the rocket just a few minutes after take-off and then descended back down to Earth at speeds of over 7,000 mph.
As it enters the atmosphere at hypersonic speeds, the outer shell inflates into the shape of a mushroom containing materials that protect the craft from heat.
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According to the New Scientist, the IRVE-3 is the heaviest of three similar inflatable re-entry devices created by NASA being designed to help bring rockets back to Earth.
“We’re pushing the boundaries with this flight,” said Lesa Roe, director of NASA Langley Research Center, according to Fox News.
“We look forward to future test launches of even bigger inflatable aeroshells.”