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Satellite Technology
NASA Langley shows off space-age technology
NASA Langley shows off space-age technology

Eight-year-old Ava Paul of Charlottesville was trying to land a spaceship safely on a planet, presumably this one. She studied the iPad on the tabletop, tapping it here and there, as the animated spacecraft dropped out of orbit and deployed an inflatable heat shield shaped like a giant mushroom cap that plowed its way through the atmosphere. A real version of the heat shield was inflated beside the table, towering over her. The spacecraft slowed down and landed safely, but missed its target by a smidge. The animation ended with a frowny face. Ava wasn't deterred. "It's cool, 'cause it's science-y," said Ava, who likes science so much she says she might...