Current Affairs - Science - Discussion

NASA's "supersonic parachute" that will have a major role in landing its Mars 2020 rover has created a world record by deploying in just four-tenths of a second and surviving 37,000 kg load. Following the launch of a 17.7-metre Black Brant IX sounding rocket, in less than 2 minutes a payload separated and started diving back through Earth's atmosphere. When the payload had reached the appropriate height (38 km) and Mach number 1.8, the payload deployed a parachute. Within four-tenths of a second, the 180-pound parachute fully inflated. It was the fastest inflation in history of a parachute of this size. It created a peak load of nearly 70,000 pounds of force. The 37,000-kilogramme load was the highest ever load survived by a supersonic parachute.