A new generation robotic lander capable of performing science and exploration research on the moon, asteroids or on Mars will soon be developed with the successful completion of the final flight in a series of tests for the robotic lander prototype.

Dubbed Mighty Eagle, the lander prototype successfully completed the final flight held at the Redstone Test Center's propulsion test facility on the U.S. Army Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville, Ala.

Mighty Eagle is a three-legged prototype that resembles an actual flight lander design. It is 4 feet tall and 8 feet in diameter and weighs 700 pounds when fueled with 90 percent hydrogen peroxide. It receives commands from an onboard computer that activates its 16 onboard thrusters -- 15 pulsed and one gravity cancelling thruster -- to carry it to a controlled landing using a pre-programmed flight profile.

NASA said the prototype serves as a platform to develop and test algorithms, sensors, avionics, software, landing legs, and integrated system elements to support autonomous landings on airless planetary bodies, where aero-braking and parachutes are not options.

Since early October, the Robotic Lander Development Project at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville has subjected the lander prototype to a series of complex outdoor flights tests maneuvers.

Might Eagle's flight profile was increased from 3 feet to 30 feet and finally a record 100 feet flight test during which the lander hovered and demonstrated the equivalent of an autonomous landing on the lunar surface, NASA said. The test also demonstrated the lander's maneuvering ability and be able to perform a safe and controlled landing.

"Our combined NASA and contractor team went from the drawing board to successfully flight testing an autonomous, closed-loop, lander prototype system in less than two years," said Julie Bassler, Robotic Lander Development project manager at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, adding that the Mighty Eagle performed well and demonstrated precision ascents, descents and horizontal translation flights to prove the lander can control itself and land safely.

"The prototype lander has the capability to launch, descend and land safely on its own -- without a man in the loop -- demonstrating the lander's autonomous and reusable test capability. Our team has matured the lander's guidance, navigation and control algorithms, which provided stable control of the lander, even through light wind and rain," said Dr. Greg Chavers, lead systems engineer for the Robotic Lander Development Project at Marshall.

The next test phase of the test series which will test enhanced navigation capabilities, is set to resume in early Spring when weather is more favorable for outdoor flight test.

The development and integration of the lander prototype is a cooperative endeavor led by the Robotic Lunar Lander Development Project at the Marshall Center; Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory; and the Von Braun Center for Science and Innovation, which includes the Science Applications International Corporation, Dynetics Corp., Teledyne Brown Engineering Inc., and Millennium Engineering and Integration Company, all of Huntsville.