1 00:00:05,800 --> 00:00:11,800 [dramatic percussion music] 2 00:00:19,600 --> 00:00:21,733 - HEY, AND WELCOME TO "NASA LAUNCHPAD." 3 00:00:21,733 --> 00:00:23,733 I'M YOUR HOST, CALEB KINCHLOW. 4 00:00:23,733 --> 00:00:25,800 INFLATABLES AREN'T A NEW THING. 5 00:00:25,800 --> 00:00:29,900 IN FACT, YOU PROBABLY PLAYED WITH INFLATABLES A LOT AS A KID, 6 00:00:29,900 --> 00:00:33,366 BECAUSE, IN ESSENCE, THIS IS AN INFLATABLE. 7 00:00:33,366 --> 00:00:35,800 AND INFLATABLES AREN'T EVEN A NEW CONCEPT 8 00:00:35,800 --> 00:00:38,133 FOR NASA AND SPACE TRAVEL IN GENERAL. 9 00:00:38,133 --> 00:00:40,433 AS FAR BACK AS 1961, 10 00:00:40,433 --> 00:00:42,633 CONCEPTS FOR INFLATABLE SPACE STATIONS 11 00:00:42,633 --> 00:00:43,733 WERE BEING DEVELOPED. 12 00:00:43,733 --> 00:00:46,000 NOW NASA'S WORKING ON INFLATABLES 13 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:47,733 IN THE FORM OF HEAT SHIELDS, 14 00:00:47,733 --> 00:00:48,966 AND THIS OLD THING 15 00:00:48,966 --> 00:00:50,033 ISN'T GOING TO CUT IT. 16 00:00:50,033 --> 00:00:51,200 [balloon sputtering] 17 00:00:51,200 --> 00:00:52,566 SO FIRST THINGS FIRST. 18 00:00:52,566 --> 00:00:54,366 JUST WHAT IS THIS NEW AND IMPROVED 19 00:00:54,366 --> 00:00:56,733 INFLATABLE TECHNOLOGY ALL ABOUT? 20 00:00:56,733 --> 00:00:59,466 - CURRENTLY, WHEN WE SEND A PAYLOAD TO ANOTHER PLANET, 21 00:00:59,466 --> 00:01:01,400 WE NEED TO SLOW IT DOWN. 22 00:01:01,400 --> 00:01:03,366 ONE OF THE WAYS THAT WE CAN SLOW IT DOWN 23 00:01:03,366 --> 00:01:04,666 IS TO USE THE ATMOSPHERE 24 00:01:04,666 --> 00:01:06,800 IF THERE IS AN ATMOSPHERE AT THAT BODY. 25 00:01:06,800 --> 00:01:10,100 TO SLOW IT DOWN, WE USE DRAG OF THE VEHICLE. 26 00:01:10,100 --> 00:01:11,666 DRAG OF THE VEHICLE 27 00:01:11,666 --> 00:01:12,866 IS A FUNCTION OF THE AREA. 28 00:01:12,866 --> 00:01:14,066 RIGHT NOW, 29 00:01:14,066 --> 00:01:16,266 WE HAVE A MAXIMUM SIZE PAYLOAD SHROUD 30 00:01:16,266 --> 00:01:18,200 OF ABOUT 4 1/2 METERS. 31 00:01:18,200 --> 00:01:20,200 SO IF YOU WANT A LARGER DRAG DIAMETER 32 00:01:20,200 --> 00:01:23,100 TO LAND A LARGER PAYLOAD ON THE PLANET, 33 00:01:23,100 --> 00:01:25,933 YOU NEED TO FIGURE OUT SOME WAY OF DEPLOYING 34 00:01:25,933 --> 00:01:27,733 THAT AEROSHELL TO A LARGER DIAMETER. 35 00:01:27,733 --> 00:01:30,500 WE'VE CHOSEN INFLATABLES AS OUR APPROACH. 36 00:01:30,500 --> 00:01:31,733 THEY PACKAGE VERY NICELY, 37 00:01:31,733 --> 00:01:33,133 VERY SIMILAR TO A PARACHUTE 38 00:01:33,133 --> 00:01:35,300 THAT PACKS DOWN AT A VERY SMALL VOLUME 39 00:01:35,300 --> 00:01:38,433 AND CAN DEPLOY TO SIGNIFICANTLY LARGER AREAS. 40 00:01:38,433 --> 00:01:39,966 - AND LIKE WE SAID, 41 00:01:39,966 --> 00:01:43,866 NASA'S NEXT-GEN INFLATABLES ARE REALLY UNIQUE STRUCTURES. 42 00:01:43,866 --> 00:01:46,466 WHAT MAKES THEM SO UNIQUE? LET'S FIND OUT. 43 00:01:46,466 --> 00:01:48,166 FIRST, LET'S TAKE A LOOK 44 00:01:48,166 --> 00:01:49,766 AT THE MATERIALS THEY'RE MADE OF. 45 00:01:49,766 --> 00:01:52,866 INFLATABLES ARE BUILT USING SEVERAL LAYERS OF MATERIALS, 46 00:01:52,866 --> 00:01:55,366 AND EACH LAYER HAS ITS OWN PURPOSE. 47 00:01:55,366 --> 00:01:58,166 - THERE ARE MANY DIFFERENT PARTS OF AN INFLATABLE. 48 00:01:58,166 --> 00:02:01,633 SO THE BASE PART, THE INSIDE, THE MAIN STRUCTURE, 49 00:02:01,633 --> 00:02:02,800 IS A SILICONE LINER, 50 00:02:02,800 --> 00:02:04,700 JUST LIKE A BALLOON, SAME THING. 51 00:02:04,700 --> 00:02:06,400 IT'S A RUBBER-TYPE MATERIAL. 52 00:02:06,400 --> 00:02:09,500 IT'S THE POINT OF KEEPING THE NITROGEN INSIDE THE VEHICLE. 53 00:02:09,500 --> 00:02:12,233 ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT IS ACTUALLY A KEVLAR. 54 00:02:12,233 --> 00:02:13,433 THIS IS THE SAME STUFF 55 00:02:13,433 --> 00:02:16,100 THAT POLICE WEAR IN THEIR BULLETPROOF VESTS. 56 00:02:16,100 --> 00:02:18,300 YOU CAN SEE THAT A LITTLE BIT BETTER HERE. 57 00:02:18,300 --> 00:02:20,133 IT'S THE YELLOW THAT'S HERE. 58 00:02:20,133 --> 00:02:22,100 IT IS A WOVEN MATERIAL. 59 00:02:22,100 --> 00:02:23,333 WE KEEP THAT INTERLOCKED. 60 00:02:23,333 --> 00:02:24,633 IT GIVES IT A STRUCTURE. 61 00:02:24,633 --> 00:02:26,633 IT KEEPS IT WITHIN A CERTAIN DIAMETER 62 00:02:26,633 --> 00:02:28,333 SO IT DOESN'T OVERINFLATE. 63 00:02:28,333 --> 00:02:29,766 AND THEN ON THE OUTSIDE OF THAT, 64 00:02:29,766 --> 00:02:32,633 WE ACTUALLY HAVE-- IT'S AN RTV, 65 00:02:32,633 --> 00:02:34,366 A RUBBERIZED COATING, 66 00:02:34,366 --> 00:02:36,633 JUST LIKE THE CAULK AROUND YOUR BATHTUB. 67 00:02:36,633 --> 00:02:38,300 THIS STUFF IS HIGH-TEMPERATURE, THOUGH, 68 00:02:38,300 --> 00:02:40,533 SO IT CAN TAKE A LITTLE BIT MORE THERMALLY 69 00:02:40,533 --> 00:02:42,600 THAN THE CAULK AROUND YOUR BATHTUB. 70 00:02:42,600 --> 00:02:44,566 AND THAT'S PRETTY MUCH ALL THAT THERE IS 71 00:02:44,566 --> 00:02:45,833 TO OUR INFLATABLE. 72 00:02:45,833 --> 00:02:48,533 - THE SHAPE OF THIS INFLATABLE IS IMPORTANT TOO. 73 00:02:48,533 --> 00:02:51,800 ENGINEERS AND RESEARCHERS KNOW THAT THE BLUNT-SHAPED BODY 74 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,900 USED IN PREVIOUS CAPSULES WORKS EFFECTIVELY. 75 00:02:54,900 --> 00:02:57,066 SO HOW DO THEY GO ABOUT GETTING AN INFLATABLE 76 00:02:57,066 --> 00:02:58,733 TO MAKE AND KEEP THE RIGHT SHAPE? 77 00:02:58,733 --> 00:03:02,333 - WE STACK A SERIES OF INCREASING-DIAMETER DOUGHNUTS 78 00:03:02,333 --> 00:03:03,500 ON TOP OF ONE ANOTHER. 79 00:03:03,500 --> 00:03:05,600 YOU THINK OF THE STACKING TOY 80 00:03:05,600 --> 00:03:07,766 YOU HAD WHEN YOU WERE A TODDLER. 81 00:03:07,766 --> 00:03:10,533 YOU HAD A SERIES OF DIFFERENT-SIZED DOUGHNUTS. 82 00:03:10,533 --> 00:03:11,700 AND AS YOU STACKED THEM UP, 83 00:03:11,700 --> 00:03:13,300 IT CREATED A CONE, EITHER UP OR DOWN 84 00:03:13,300 --> 00:03:15,200 OR WHATEVER WAY YOU WANTED. 85 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,166 SO WE STACK THE DOUGHNUTS TOGETHER TO GET THE CONE, 86 00:03:18,166 --> 00:03:21,633 AND THEN WE USE ADHESIVES AND STRAPS 87 00:03:21,633 --> 00:03:23,300 TO HOLD THE WHOLE ASSEMBLY TOGETHER 88 00:03:23,300 --> 00:03:26,133 AND THEN TIE THAT INFLATABLE STRUCTURE 89 00:03:26,133 --> 00:03:28,466 BACK TO THE CENTER BODY WITH A SERIES OF STRAPS. 90 00:03:28,466 --> 00:03:29,966 - OF COURSE, THE INFLATABLE 91 00:03:29,966 --> 00:03:31,933 ISN'T PUMPED UP FOR THE WHOLE MISSION. 92 00:03:31,933 --> 00:03:34,500 THAT MEANS SOMETHING NEEDS TO INFLATE THE STRUCTURE 93 00:03:34,500 --> 00:03:36,300 WHEN IT GETS TO ITS DESTINATION. 94 00:03:36,300 --> 00:03:37,500 SO HOW DOES THAT HAPPEN? 95 00:03:37,500 --> 00:03:38,833 - JUST LIKE WHEN YOU GO TO THE STORE 96 00:03:38,833 --> 00:03:39,866 AND YOU GET THE HELIUM TANK 97 00:03:39,866 --> 00:03:41,233 AND THEY FILL UP YOUR BALLOON, 98 00:03:41,233 --> 00:03:42,966 WE HAVE A CYLINDER JUST LIKE THAT 99 00:03:42,966 --> 00:03:44,700 THAT ACTUALLY HOLDS NITROGEN. 100 00:03:44,700 --> 00:03:47,200 AND WE FILL THESE THINGS UP IN FLIGHT. 101 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:48,766 A SERIES OF VALVES OPEN, 102 00:03:48,766 --> 00:03:51,866 AND IT FILLS EACH ONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALLY. 103 00:03:51,866 --> 00:03:53,600 AND THEY'RE ALSO LINKED TOGETHER 104 00:03:53,600 --> 00:03:55,366 SO THAT WE MAKE SURE WE DON'T OVERPRESSURIZE 105 00:03:55,366 --> 00:03:56,400 AND THEY DON'T POP. 106 00:03:56,400 --> 00:03:58,533 - NOW, WITH THE INFLATABLE HEAT SHIELD 107 00:03:58,533 --> 00:03:59,833 BEING A NEW TECHNOLOGY 108 00:03:59,833 --> 00:04:01,766 WITH SO MANY DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, 109 00:04:01,766 --> 00:04:03,400 IT FOLLOWS THAT ENGINEERS 110 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:05,533 DON'T KNOW EVERYTHING ABOUT HOW IT WILL WORK, 111 00:04:05,533 --> 00:04:07,166 SO THEY HAVE TO DO TESTS. 112 00:04:07,166 --> 00:04:09,266 AND WE'RE NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT PENCIL AND PAPER 113 00:04:09,266 --> 00:04:11,133 OR EVEN COMPUTER SIMULATIONS. 114 00:04:11,133 --> 00:04:12,600 - WE'VE GOT A LOT OF DIFFERENT TESTING 115 00:04:12,600 --> 00:04:13,966 THAT HAS TO GO INTO THESE VEHICLES 116 00:04:13,966 --> 00:04:15,333 IN ORDER TO PROVE THEM. 117 00:04:15,333 --> 00:04:17,766 WE ARE DOING WIND TUNNEL TESTING OUT AT NFAC 118 00:04:17,766 --> 00:04:20,400 WITH A FULL-SIZE VEHICLE. 119 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:22,400 WE'VE GOT EIGHT-FOOT-HIGH TEMPERATURE TESTING, 120 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:23,900 WHERE WE'RE DOING SMALL SAMPLES 121 00:04:23,900 --> 00:04:25,866 WE CAN DO DIFFERENT MATERIAL CONFIGURATIONS FOR 122 00:04:25,866 --> 00:04:28,133 AND TRY TO GET THAT INFORMATION. 123 00:04:28,133 --> 00:04:30,600 WE ALSO HAVE MORE COMPLEX TESTS 124 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:32,533 WHERE WE TEST THINGS LIKE THE NOSE CAPS 125 00:04:32,533 --> 00:04:36,100 IN THE TP2 TEST FACILITY DOWN AT JSC. 126 00:04:36,100 --> 00:04:38,400 SO WE'VE BEEN DOING ALL KINDS OF DIFFERENT TESTING, 127 00:04:38,400 --> 00:04:40,633 TRYING TO GET THE INFORMATION THAT WE NEED 128 00:04:40,633 --> 00:04:43,500 IN ORDER TO GO TO OTHER PLANETS OR WHEREVER. 129 00:04:43,500 --> 00:04:46,600 - AND ONCE INFLATABLE TECHNOLOGY IS READY TO GO, 130 00:04:46,600 --> 00:04:48,900 THERE'S NO TELLING SOME OF THE DESTINATIONS 131 00:04:48,900 --> 00:04:50,433 THAT COULD BE ON NASA'S RADAR. 132 00:04:50,433 --> 00:04:52,766 UNTIL THEN, RESEARCHERS AND ENGINEERS 133 00:04:52,766 --> 00:04:54,266 WILL CONTINUE THEIR QUEST 134 00:04:54,266 --> 00:04:58,433 TO TAKE THIS TECHNOLOGY LITERALLY OUT OF THIS WORLD. 135 00:04:58,433 --> 00:04:59,433 THAT'S IT FOR NOW. 136 00:04:59,433 --> 00:05:00,500 THANKS FOR WATCHING. 137 00:05:00,500 --> 00:05:01,633 I'M CALEB KINCHLOW. 138 00:05:01,633 --> 00:05:03,833 CATCH YOU NEXT TIME ON "NASA LAUNCHPAD."