Testing technology
The ExoMars 2016 Mission had two primary objectives, delivering an orbiter satellite to Mars orbit, and delivering a technology demonstrator lander to the surface of Mars.
Vorticity’s role in this mission was that of Parachute Assembly Sub-System Engineering, initially defining a two stage parachute system to correctly position a lander and rover on the surface of Mars. Originally the only parachute system of the ExoMars program, when the program was re-scoped as two missions, Vorticity re-defined the parachute system for the Schiaparelli lander. The data obtained from the testing of the two stage system was applied to the second mission of the program, the Rover Surface Platform (RSP).
Wind Tunnel Testing
Vorticity managed the subsonic wind tunnel tests of the ExoMars 2016 parachute at NASA’s AMES wind tunnel.
Vorticity also led the successful supersonic testing of the first stage parachute in the NASA Glenn 10 ft x 10 ft tunnel.