Nasa tests 'Flying Saucer' vehicle with hopes that it will be used on Mars

NASA launched a helium balloon carrying saucer on Saturday, June 28. This was a test of the equipment in the hopes of one day using it on Mars.

NASA updated that a balloon holding the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator plans to launch its rocket-powered, saucer-shaped test equipment into space from the Pacific Missile Range Facility located at the United States Navy in Kauai, Hawaii.
NASA's projected estimate has 5 launch dates: June 28, 29, 30, and July 1 and 3. The test is streamed in realtime on NASA television vis UStream and simulcast. The launch was originally scheduled for early June, but because of strong winds the launch was delayed.

The Huffington Post accounts that after taking off, the balloon boosted the vehicle over the Pacific. Shortly after, the rocket motor was ignited which carried the vehicle over 30 miles high at a supersonic speed. There are more flights being conducted by NASA Engineers next year before they decide to launch the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator for a foreseeable Mars mission. Micheal Gazarik, the head of space technology at NASA said that technology development "is the surest path to Mars."

VB News accounts that NASA equipped the vehicle with a parachute hundred feet wide, and a balloon which is capable of very fast inflation. NASA will collect significantly valuable data and is thrilled to launch the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator.