Posted by Courtney E. Howard
WASHINGTON, 2 Nov. 2011. NASA officials are conducting a robotic lander altitude test flight to mature technology for a new generation of small, smart, versatile robotic landers to achieve scientific and exploration goals on the surface of the moon, asteroids, or other airless bodies. During the test, the lander prototype will perform an autonomous hover test, fly up to 100 feet and move sideways (or translate), and perform a controlled, safe landing 30 feet away from the launch pad.
The lander, called Mighty Eagle, is fueled by 90 percent pure hydrogen peroxide and receives its commands from an onboard computer. The computer activates onboard thrusters to enable a controlled landing using a pre-programmed flight profile.
The series of tests are designed not only to demonstrate the lander prototype’s ability to perform an autonomous descent and landing, but also to check landing control algorithms for the next generation of lander missions.
The outdoor test will take place at the U.S. Army's Redstone Test Center on Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.
The project is managed by NASA's Science Mission Directorate in Washington.
