The Low-Earth Orbit Flight Test of an Inflatable Decelerator (LOFTID) is set to be launched into space by NASA next month and will see a huge heat shield launched into low Earth orbit.

Once there, it will inflate, before descending back to Earth. NASA hopes the test will demonstrate how the inflatable heat shield can slow down a spacecraft enough to survive atmospheric entry.

If it proves successful, the technology could one day allow humans to land safely on Mars. LOFTID’s aeroshell will measure six metres in diameter or about 20 feet. One of the biggest challenges NASA faces is delivering heavy payloads to destinations with an atmosphere. That’s because the “current rigid aeroshells are constrained by a rocket’s shroud size”, NASA explained. “One answer is an inflatable aeroshell that can be deployed to a scale much larger than the shroud.”

NASA said that this technology can enable a variety of proposed missions to destinations such as Mars, Venus, and Titan, as well as return to Earth.

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