NASA Parachute Sensor Testing Can Make Mars Landings Safer

Pressure is applied to a test fixture with a nylon fabric sample until it fails at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The fabric in the test fixture forms a bubble when pressure is applied to the silicone bladder underneath. In this frame, the silicone bladder is visible underneath the torn fabric after it was inflated to failure. A similar test can be performed with a sensor on the fabric to verify the sensor will work when stretched in three dimensions.

Pressure is applied to a test fixture with a nylon fabric sample until it fails at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California. The fabric in the test fixture forms a bubble when pressure is applied to the silicone bladder underneath. In this frame, the silicone bladder is visible underneath the torn fabric after it was inflated to failure. A similar test can be performed with a sensor on the fabric to verify the sensor will work when stretched in three dimensions.

Photographer NASA/Genaro Vavuris
Location AFRC
NASA Armstrong Flight Research CenterNASA ArmstrongAFRCAeronautics Research Mission Directoratesupersonic parachutesSpace Technology Mission DirectorateEarly Career Initiative FundEdwards Air Force BaseCaliforniastrain gaugesfabrictextilesinflatable structures