NASA to conduct Mars 'flying saucer' test on Earth

This April 17, 2014 image provided by NASA shows workmen unloading a saucer-shaped test vehicle for NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator (LDSD) project, at the U.S Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility at Kekaha on the island of Kauai in Hawaii. (AP/NASA)

In this undated image provided by NASA a saucer-shaped test vehicle holding equipment for landing large payloads on Mars is shown in the Missile Assembly Building at the US Navy's Pacific Missile Range Facility in Kauai, Hawaii. (AP/NASA)

LOS ANGELES – NASA is getting ready to launch a "flying saucer" into Earth's atmosphere to test technology that could be used to land on Mars.

For decades, NASA has depended on the same parachute design to slow spacecraft after they enter the Martian atmosphere. But it needs a larger and stronger parachute if it wants to land heavier objects and astronauts.

On Wednesday, weather permitting, a balloon carrying the saucer-shaped vehicle is set to launch from Hawaii. Then the vehicle will ignite its rocket engine and climb to 34 miles. It will inflate a tube to slow itself down from supersonic speeds and unfurl a parachute for a water landing.

Engineers will analyze the data to determine if the test was successful. The test has been postponed several times because of winds.