The Indian Space Agency has successfully test flown a new technology–an Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD)–a game changer with multiple applications for future missions.ISRO sources said that the IAD, designed and developed by the Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, was successfully
test flown in a Rohini sounding rocket from TERLS,Thumba at 12.20 pm
yesterday.
The IAD was initially folded and kept inside the payload bay of the rocket.At around 84 km altitude, the IAD was inflated and it descended through atmosphere with the payload part of sounding rocket. The pneumatic system for inflation was developed by LPSC. The IAD has systematically reduced the velocity of the payload through
aerodynamic drag and followed the predicted trajectory.This is first time that an IAD is designed specifically for spent stage recovery. All the objectives of the mission were successfully demonstrated.