NASA crash test clips reveal something odd

[cluttonfred]

I came across the clip of various sorts of drop/crash/splash testing at the Landing and Impact Research Facility at NASA's Langley Research Center and something caught my eye. Does anyone know more about the crushable pyramidal structures at 1:37? Are they sacrificial legs for hard-landing spacecraft? Cheers, Matthew

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RwVBRxlr9P4

 

[Dragon029]

They're just cardboard crash / landing force attenuators; used often for air-dropping equipment from transport aircraft - perhaps they're looking at using them for interplanetary applications.

 

[cluttonfred]

Interesting, though perhaps a bit difficult to store. But if they used the same principle with something that could deployed just before landing they might be on to something.

 

[Dragon029]

Airbags I'm sure would suffice for such an application.

 

[cluttonfred]

Do you have any idea where I might find technical details or a supplier for those cardboard attenuators?

 

[Dragon029]

I don't know if this stuff comes in the same strengths, but it appears quite similar:

http://www.tivuplast.it/en/tivuplast-products.php

I think you would need to contact them to ask about technical specifications.