ARD descent system drop test

A mockup of ESA's Atmospheric Reentry Demonstrator (ARD) is prepared for a balloon ascent from Trapani, Italy to test the capsule's descent system. The model was recovered from the Pacific Ocean (see 98.05.006-002). ARD will be launched aboard the third Ariane-5 flight (Ar-503), in 1998, is a major step towards developing a European return-to-Earth capability. The 2.8 t, 2.80 m-diameter unmanned Apollo-shape capsule is sized according to Ariane-5's dual-launch performance. Some 200 sensors will monitor aerodynamic, aerothermodynamic, thermal protection and reentry blackout conditions. Ariane-5 will inject ARD into a suborbital trajectory peaking at 830 km altitude for splashdown and recovery in the Pacific Ocean after a 100 min flight. [Image Date: 14-07-96] [98.05.007-001]