Inflatable heat shield reentry

Deceleration for atmospherical return, particularly for higher-speed Mars-return missions, advantages from maximising "the drag space of the entry system. The larger the diameter of the aeroshell, the larger the payload is."[42] AN expansive aeroshell provides one various for enlarging the drag space with a low-mass style.

Such AN expansive shield/aerobrake was designed for the penetrators of Mars ninety six mission. Since the mission unsuccessful owing to the launcher malfunction, the NPO Lavochkin and DASA/ESA have designed a mission for Earth orbit. The expansive return and Descent Technology (IRDT) demonstrator was launched on Soyuz-Fregat on eight February 2000. The expansive protect was designed as a cone with 2 stages of inflation. though the second stage of the protect did not inflate, the demonstrator survived the orbital return and was recovered.[43][44] the following missions flown on the Volna rocket weren't booming owing to launcher failure.[45]