ARES Dynamic Tests
After entering Mars' atmosphere and decelerating to subsonic speeds under its large parachute, the ARES Entry Vehicle releases
its protective forward heat shield. The ARES Airplane Ejection System ensures that the folded airplane is released
safely from the backshell so it can begin its science mission over Mars.
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In the Summer and Fall of 2004, Langley Research Center conducted dozens of dynamic tests using a 1/3 scale
model of the ARES Airplane Ejection System. A simple, but properly weighted mass was used to represent the
airplane as it was ejected.
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You can watch a short slow-motion movie of one of the tests by going to the Videos section of our Multimedia page.
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Principal Investigator: Dr. Joel S. Levine
(j.s.levine@larc.nasa.gov)