Entry, Descent, and Landing Instrumentation

Overview of sensors used in EDL instrumentation suites. For spaceflight missions involving atmospheric entry, the environment experienced by a spacecraft cannot be fully replicated on the ground.

Taking measurements in the flight environment is the “gold standard” for:

Validating predictive modeling tools
Reducing risk on future EDL missions

EDL Instrumentation can consist of in-situ sensors embedded within the aeroshell, or remote observations.

Focus of this presentation is on NASA in-situ sensors.