This is a prototype of the airbag for the Mars Pathfinder lander. Mars Pathfinder was the first mission intended to gather scientific data on the surface of the red planet since the Viking mission in 1976. An unusual, innovative method was used to achieve a soft landing of the spacecraft. On reaching Mars on July 4, 1997, Pathfinder entered the planet's thin atmosphere, was slowed by a parachute and then rockets, and then landed by bouncing on inflated airbags. The artifact consists of an engineering prototype for those airbags. The mission airbags as well as the prototypes were designed and built by JPL for NASA's office of Space Science. The artifact was transferred to NASM by NASA in 1999.
Display Status
This object is not on display at the National Air and Space Museum. It is either on loan or in storage.
Object Details
Country of Origin
United States of America
Type
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Parts & Structural Components
Manufacturer
ILC Dover, Inc.
Dimensions
Approximate (single airbag): 5 ft. 2 11/16 in. tall x 12 ft. 5 5/8 in. wide x 11 ft. 7 1/16 in. diameter (159.3 x 380 x 353.2cm)
Overall (assembled four airbags): 15 ft. 2 1/4 in. tall x 17 ft. 3 5/16 in. wide (462.9 x 526.6cm)
Materials
Vectran high strength fiber over an airtight bladder layer surrounded by four layers of a slightly lighter Vectran fabric.
Alternate Name
Mars Pathfinder Airbags
Inventory Number
A19990073001
Credit Line
Transferred from National Aeronautics and Space Administration and Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Data Source
National Air and Space Museum
Restrictions & Rights
Usage conditions apply
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