A dummy ascended to stratospheric heights final week, as a part of the European Space Agency’s ongoing preparation for its ExoMars mission, set to launch subsequent yr. The structural integrity (and popularity) of the dummy’s parachutes had been on the road, and the above clip exhibits they handed the check.

Multiple parachutes had been being examined upfront of the ESA-Roscosmos ExoMars mission, which is about to depart for the Red Planet in September 2022. First, there was the 50-foot-wide first stage major parachute, which carried out with out subject in slowing down the check dummy falling at supersonic speeds. Then got here the 115-foot-wide second stage major parachute, which received the job executed, with minor injury.

“We’re very happy to report that the first main parachute performed perfectly: we have a supersonic parachute design that can fly to Mars,” mentioned Thierry Blancquaert, the group chief for ExoMars, in an ESA press release. Blancquaert added that “there will be at least two further opportunities to test this parachute design to gain further confidence”.

Blancquaert mentioned that whereas the second major parachute didn’t carry out completely, it did higher than earlier runs; a few these included unsuccessful drop assessments in 2019 and 2020. Just in case, this time across the ESA ordered some backup parachutes from the identical U.S. producer that made the Perseverance rover’s profitable parachute system. Both parachutes had been armed with their very own pilot chutes, and the dummy had a thermal protect. A rocket propulsion system triggered at 20 seconds earlier than landing to make sure the system slowed down sufficient earlier than touching down.

The subsequent drop assessments are scheduled for October or November of this yr and can occur in Oregon.

More: Watch NASA’s Mars 2020 Parachute Unfurl at Supersonic Speeds