By crashing into Mars’ surface, we’re testing a novel landing technique there. NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory is testing a lander design called the Simplified High Impact Energy Landing Device (SHIELD) (JPL). One day, it might offer a fresh approach for low-cost missions to reach Mars. Instead of using retrorockets or parachutes to land, SHIELD would have a folding base that resembled an accordion. On August 12, 2022, the base’s full-size prototype underwent testing. At JPL, a nearly 90-foot (27-meter) tall drop tower was used to launch the prototype toward the ground. A steel plate made sure that the collision would be much more forceful than what would occur on Mars. The SHIELD prototype’s electronic parts, including a smartphone, withstood the impact against the steel plate at 110 mph (177 kph), proving that the design was successful.
CREDIT: NASA
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