ADAPT

Nasa’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) in California, US has partnered with Masten Space Systems to test Mars landing technologies on a demonstration vehicle.

Called the Autonomous Descent and Ascent Powered-flight Testbed (ADAPT), the test system was used to evaluate Nasa’s terrain relative navigation with a sensor called the lander vision system (LVS), and the guidance for fuel-optimal large diverts (G-FOLD) algorithm.

ADAPT is built on Masten’s XA-0.1B ‘Xombie’ vertical-launch, vertical-landing reusable rocket platform, which provides Mars-like descent conditions.

Nasa JPL ADAPT principal investigator Nikolas Trawny said: "No previous Mars lander has used onboard surface imaging to achieve a safe and precise touchdown, but a future spacecraft could use LVS and G-FOLD to first autonomously determine its location and then optimally fly to its intended landing site.

"ADAPT is built on Masten’s XA-0.1B ‘Xombie’ vertical-launch, vertical-landing reusable rocket platform, which provides Mars-like descent conditions."

"All of this happens onboard, without human intervention, and in real time."

During the two test flights in December 2014, ADAPT reached a maximum altitude of 1,066ft before beginning its descent.

The LVS and G-FOLD facilitated the Xombie rocket to alter the course of its descent at 190m during its descent, and fly in new course to reach the target landing pad located 300m to the east, Nasa said.

Nasa JPL Mars Exploration Directorate chief technologist Chad Edwards said: "This represents a huge step forward in our future capabilities for safe and precise Mars landing, and demonstrates a highly effective approach for rapid, low-cost validation of new technologies for the entry, descent and landing of spacecraft.

"This same technology has valuable applications to landing on the Moon, asteroids and other space targets of interest."

Flight tests are supported by Nasa Space Technology Mission Directorate through its Flight Opportunities Programme.

Image: The ADAPT test system can help a spacecraft divert its course and make a smooth, pinpoint landing. Photo: courtesy of Nasa Photo / Tom Tschida.