NASA will conduct a test flight on June 2nd of a saucer-shaped vehicle from a facility in Hawaii to test technologies for landing large payloads on Mars. The test involves lifting the vehicle to 120,000 feet with a high-altitude balloon and then dropping it to be accelerated by a rocket motor to 180,000 feet. A press conference will be held before the test and the launch and portions of the flight will be live streamed. The test is aimed at demonstrating technologies for landing heavy payloads safely on Mars.

1. NASA Coverage for Saucer-Shaped Test Vehicle Flight
A
saucer-shaped test vehicle holding equipment for landing large payloads on Mars is shown in the
Missile Assembly Building at the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kaua'i, Hawaii. Image
Credit: 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 in
Kauai, 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 NASA
Headquarters, Washington
--Mark Adler, LDSD project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in Pasadena,
California

2. --Ian Clark, LDSD principal investigator
at JPL
NASA has identified six potential dates
for launch of the high-altitude balloon
carrying the LDSD experiment: June 3, 5,
7, 9, 11 and 14. Decisions to attempt
launch of the LDSD test will be made the
day before each launch opportunity date.
NASA will issue launch advisories via the
mission website, advisories and on
Twitter 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 balloon
carrying the LDSD. June 3 is the first launch attempt day, with a launch window extending from 8 to
9:30 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 and
online.
The public may watch the news conference on June 2, and the balloon launch and subsequent test on
June 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 be
dropped. 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

3. NASA's Space Technology Mission Directorate funds the LDSD mission, a cooperative effort led by
JPL. NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, manages LDSD within the
Technology Demonstration Mission Program Office. NASA's Wallops Flight Facility in Wallops
Island, Virginia, is coordinating support with the Pacific Missile Range Facility and providing the
balloon 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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