NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory said on its website to clarify the test of time "flying saucer" LDSD, which is necessary for the soft landing ships to Mars.

The launch will take place at the Pacific Missile base in Hawaii on June 2, and will not begin before 20.30 (Minsk time). The rocket engine will raise the unit into the stratosphere to a height of 55 kilometers above the Earth. After this "flying saucer" begin to decline, using a special inflatable belt.

During the experiment, NASA is going to simulate the entry of the aircraft into the Martian atmosphere at supersonic speeds. Physical parameters Martian atmosphere corresponds approximately to the height of 30 kilometers above the ground.
Device for braking with a supersonic velocity in a rarefied atmosphere (LDSD) is a disc surrounded by an inflatable belt in the form of a donut. It is assumed that this technology will help reduce speed and save fuel while descending spacecraft mission to Mars.