NASA launched the Inflatable Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE)

NASA LAUNCH TESTS INFLATABLE SPACECRAFT AEROSHELL - LARC (NEW)
Researchers from NASA's Langley Research Center in Hampton, Va., are developing a
new lightweight inflatable spacecraft heat shield. They launched
Re-entry Vehicle Experiment (IRVE) at NASA's Wallops Flight Facility, Wallops Island, Va.,
using a sounding rocket. Tests showed a space capsule returning to Earth could use an
inflatable outer shell to slow and protect itself at atmospheric entry.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Inflatable
• Heat
• Shield
• Re-entry
• Vehicle
• Experiment
• IRVE

[TogieTung]

If they incorporate this system to the spacesuit life support backpack, the idea of emergency escape from the edge of space doesn't sound impossible at all.