NASA To Test First Flying Saucer Tomorrow

NASA seems to have borrowed a few ideas from science fiction - or from aliens - as it prepares to flight test a ‘flying saucer’ on Wednesday.

The inflatable LDSD - Low Density Supersonic Decelerator - will be tested at above the speed of sound high in Earth’s atmosphere this week.

The vehicle isn’t intended to carry astronauts however - or to fly past lonely weirdos on country roads - it’s a giant inflatable brake.

NASA hopes it could be used to land the first human missions safely on Mars.

As the vehicle descends to Earth, airbags and a supersonic parachute will be used to slow it down - and NASA is to stream video of the flight test live online.

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You get to see all the same video I do, at the same time I do,' said Mark Adler, of Nasa's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

'This year's test is centered on how our newly-designed supersonic parachute will perform. We think we have a great design ready for the challenge.

‘But the proof is in the pudding and the pudding will be made live for everyone to see.'