Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator

Why in news?

• ISRO has successfully demonstrated the new technology with Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD).

Significance of new technology:

• This could aid the cost-effective recovery of spent rocket stages and safely land payloads on other planets.

What is an Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD)?

• Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator or IAD is a technique used to decelerate an object plunging down through the atmosphere.
• The ISRO’s Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator (IAD) was designed and developed by Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre(VSSC) on a Rohini-300 (RH300 Mk II) sounding rocket.
• ??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.
• IAD has systematically reduced the velocity of the payload through aerodynamic drag and followed the predicted trajectory.

PRACTICE QUESTION

Effective usage of ‘Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator’ technique will aid in:

(a) Exploration of rare earth minerals

(b) Safe landing of payloads on other planets.

(c) Purification of air in industrial regions

(d) Enhanced navigation of commercial aircrafts

                          B

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