NASA’s Supersonic Parachute Test Takes Flight in Hopes of Eventually Dropping Science on Mars

A drone flew over NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, California this summer and dropped a small capsule that deployed a sensor-packed parachute into the desert sky, marking a big step towards landing on Mars.

NASA’s EPIC project—Enhancing Parachutes by Instrumenting the Canopy—solves the problem of landing heavy payloads on Mars’ thin, unforgiving atmosphere. The June flight showed a new strain-measuring sensor woven into the parachute’s fabric that can handle supersonic descents and deliver data for safer landings.

The test was simple. An Alta X quadrotor lifted a Langley-designed capsule to 300 feet and released it with a countdown: “Three, two, one.” The parachute bloomed and the sensors tracked every strain as it inflated under the load. Engineers and interns watched, GoPros rolling, as the canopy held firm and the sensors didn’t tear or disrupt the descent.

What makes this test great is the precision. Supersonic parachutes, like those used on the Perseverance rover, face unknown forces, but EPIC’s sensors capture real-time strain data and refine computer models to make future landings solid. In June, the sensors nailed it and stayed secure and functional.

The team tested 50 sensor types and landed on three that could stretch with the parachute’s nylon without breaking. Ground tests honed the design, while bonding sensors to the slippery material required clever engineering.
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