article_snippet: June, to simulate the Martian atmosphere on Earth, The LDSD was lifted to a height of 23 miles (37km) by a high-altitude balloon.
article_snippet: As this point The LDSD inflated around a larger saucer-shaped object, bringing The LDSD safely back to land in open water.
article_snippet: ‘The LDSD will test breakthrough technologies that will enable large payloads to be safely landed on the surface of Mars, or other planetary bodies with atmospheres, including Earth,’ Nasa said in a statement.
article_snippet: Esessentially parachute, The LDSD is large - 15ft (4.6 metres) wide and weighing 7,000lbs (3.200kg) - in order to cope with the atmosphere of Mars.
article_snippet: Nasa's LDSD project is seen during The main structural body of the second flight test vehicle in Nasa's LDSD project assembly in a cleanroom at ’ Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
article_snippet: The flight test for the second flight test vehicle in Nasa's LDSD project is planned in June of this year.
article_snippet: A successful test took place in June 2014, shown, when The LDSD successfully re-entered part of Earth's atmosphere.
article_snippet: It showed that while some aspects of the second flight test vehicle in Nasa's LDSD project worked, others - like the second flight test vehicle in Nasa's LDSD project parachutes - needed further development following The flight test for this vehicle .
article_snippet: The LDSD, however, is an alternative way to reach the surface that will be able to land things that are bigger than Curiosity, such as equipment for a manned mission or humans themselves.
article_snippet: There will be four tests of The LDSD in total before mission managers decide whether to employ it on future Mars missions.
article_snippet: In a test last year, in June 2014, the second flight test vehicle in Nasa's LDSD project was partially successful - although a parachute was torn apart when the second flight test vehicle in Nasa's LDSD project deployed, owing to the high forces.
article_snippet: The LDSD, shown, is an alternative way to reach the surface that will be able to land things that are bigger than Curiosity, such as equipment for a manned mission or humans themselves .
article_snippet: A good test is one where there are no surprises but a great test is one where you are able to learn new things, and that is certainly what we have in this case,' said Ian Clark, principal investigator for LDSD at Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, after the test.
article_snippet: And Nasa will be hoping to learn just as much on their latest attempt at using LDSD.