NASA IRVE-3 Successful. Orbital Re-Entry @ 7,600 mph Possible (Video)
NASA has been experimenting the inflatable re-entry mechanisms for a long time now and the success of Inflatable Reentry Vehicle Experiment would make the space-crafts to re-enter the Earth's orbit at super-sonic speeds ( ~ 7600 mph ) surviving the high heat during the descent. NASA engineers test fired the rocket at 7:01 a.m. Monday from NASA's Wallops Flight Facility on Wallops Island, Va. After about 6 minutes of flight, the 680 pound inflatable aeroshell (heat shield) along with the payload detached itself from the rocket at an altitude of about 280 miles over the Atlantic Ocean.
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crazyengineers.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F07%2FNASA-IRVE-3-Hardware-Test.jpeg&hash=bab9a5d12a0bd9ec54df69fdc5362a14)
<em>NASA Engineers Testing IRVE-3 Hardware | Image Credit: NASA/ Sean Smith</em>
The inflation system injected Nitrogen into the heat shield until it acquired the shape of 10 ft wide mushroom. Four on-board cameras kept the ground engineers in control of the whole process. The pressure and temperature data was continuously logged using on-board sensors and information collected by the on-board equipment is currently being studied. The whole experiment lasted for about 20 minutes and a high speed US Navy boat is currently in the process of retrieving the IRVE-3. Check out the video that shows IRVE-3 in action and NASA engineers speak about the problem it solves.
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn-akm.vmixcore.com/vmixcore/js?auto_play=0&cc_default_off=1&player_name=uvp&width=512&height=332&player_id=1aa0b90d7d31305a75d7fa03bc403f5a&t=V0UdPCcahqCxmCIl8XgeYZuywb-08ha1h-"></script>
The IRVE-3 is a part of NASA's ambitious Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) project. which will be a game changer in NASA's aero-space programs. More information about this project can be obtained <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/game_changing_technology/game_changing_development/HIAD/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HIAD (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator) | NASA</a>.
![[IMG]](proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.crazyengineers.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2012%2F07%2FNASA-IRVE-3-Hardware-Test.jpeg&hash=bab9a5d12a0bd9ec54df69fdc5362a14)
<em>NASA Engineers Testing IRVE-3 Hardware | Image Credit: NASA/ Sean Smith</em>
The inflation system injected Nitrogen into the heat shield until it acquired the shape of 10 ft wide mushroom. Four on-board cameras kept the ground engineers in control of the whole process. The pressure and temperature data was continuously logged using on-board sensors and information collected by the on-board equipment is currently being studied. The whole experiment lasted for about 20 minutes and a high speed US Navy boat is currently in the process of retrieving the IRVE-3. Check out the video that shows IRVE-3 in action and NASA engineers speak about the problem it solves.
<script type="text/javascript" src="https://cdn-akm.vmixcore.com/vmixcore/js?auto_play=0&cc_default_off=1&player_name=uvp&width=512&height=332&player_id=1aa0b90d7d31305a75d7fa03bc403f5a&t=V0UdPCcahqCxmCIl8XgeYZuywb-08ha1h-"></script>
The IRVE-3 is a part of NASA's ambitious Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (HIAD) project. which will be a game changer in NASA's aero-space programs. More information about this project can be obtained <a href="https://www.nasa.gov/offices/oct/game_changing_technology/game_changing_development/HIAD/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">HIAD (Hypersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator) | NASA</a>.
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