In the NASA Mars exploration mission, Japan`s Teijin high-performance para-aramid fiber Technora® was once again deployed in space for space exploration. Technora® para-aramid plays a vital role in the structure of the Mars rover’s parachute. The parachute was developed by the airborne system and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory and will be deployed during its descent to Mars in February 2021.
In order to find signs of past life on Mars and collect the returned rocks and soil for analysis, the Mars Perseverance Rover carried the heaviest payload to date. In view of this unprecedented challenge, the parachute system has undergone a series of rigorous tests to deal with the extreme conditions on Mars, including temperatures of -63°C, intense sandstorms and atmospheric electricity, and withstands nearly 31,751 kg (nearly 70,000 pounds) The expansion load.
In order to ensure that this unique parachute system can still work normally under the extreme conditions of descending to Mars, the staff incorporated 60kg (132 pounds) of Technora® into the parachute suspension cable, and Technora is also used for the parachute riser. This mission is based on the proven technologies and systems of previous Mars rover expeditions. Especially in 2012, Technora® has been successfully used in the Mars Curiosity rover. The parachute's suspension cable must withstand 9G during landing. (Approximately 27,000 kg, 59,525 lb) of force, while achieving a safe landing.
The "Perseverance" rover's parachute has been extensively tested to ensure that it can cope with current challenging tasks, including wind tunnel testing at NASA's Ames Research Center and the use of the Black Brant launched by NASA's Wallops Flight Research The IX sounding rocket is tested to create conditions related to Mars. In the final flight test, the parachute withstood a load of 67,000 pounds, which is equivalent to the highest surviving weight of a supersonic parachute.
The deployment of mortars has also undergone extensive testing. The "Perseverance" parachute was tightly stuffed into an aluminum can, and when it was deployed, the explosive propellant at the bottom of the mortar fired the parachute. Thanks to the strength of Technora® in the chute, tests performed at extreme temperatures have been successful.