The US space agency was forced to postpone the first test of the largest parachute ever deployed until Friday owing to bad weather. The test is very important as researchers want to use it to land on Mars.

Good weather conditions are required to conduct the test flight of the flying saucer and if conditions permit on Friday, the test will be broadcasted live on NASA´s website beginning at 1:30 pm.

The launch of the flying saucer, known as the Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator, has already been delayed several times because of high ocean waves. The test was originally scheduled for early this week, but now the launch window has been extended until June 12.

“A line of rain showers developed overnight moving towards the launch site, which result in unstable wind conditions near the surface that would prevent the launch of the balloon", NASA said.

Sending robotic spacecraft is not a new venture for NASA as the US space agency has been involved in the same since 1970s. However, what sets this new test apart from the previous ones is more advanced technology, known as the Supersonic Ringsail Parachute. The technology has been claimed to be so good that it could allow sending seven heavier spacecraft to Mars, with soft landing. Sending heavier aircraft to Mars is the need of the hour for NASA as they would be carrying humans and months of food and supplies.

To talk about the test, a giant balloon will be put into use to send the flying saucer, an inner-tube shaped decelerator and parachute to an altitude of 120,000 feet (37 kilometers) over the Pacific Ocean.