Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD)

Topic- Science and Technology [GS Paper-3]

Context- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) has successfully tested a technology that could aid cost-effective recovery of spent rocket stages and safely land payloads on other planets.

Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD)

• The Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) was designed, developed and successfully test-flown by ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC).
• It was launched on a Rohini-300 (RH300 Mk II) sounding rocket from the Thumba Equatorial Rocket Launching Station (TERLS).
• The IAD serves to decelerate an object plunging down through the atmosphere.
• The IAD was initially folded and kept inside the payload bay of the rocket.
• At around 84 km altitude, the IAD was inflated and it descended through the atmosphere with the payload part of the sounding rocket.
• The pneumatic system for inflation was developed by the Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre (LPSC).
• The IAD has systematically reduced the velocity of the payload through aerodynamic drag and followed the predicted trajectory.
• The IAD has huge potential in a variety of space applications like recovery of spent stages of rocket, for landing payloads on to Mars or Venus and in making space habitat for human space flight missions.
• This demonstration opens a gateway for cost effective spent stage recovery using the Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator technology. It can also be used in ISRO’s future missions to Venus and Mars.

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