File:JPL Pneumatic cannon used in impact testing 355-1387bc.jpg

English: The June 2009 Historical Photo featured an inflated Mylar impact limiter designed to protect a payload during a hard landing on the surface of a planet. Above is the launching mechanism that was used to test it. Al Delgadillo, who was in charge of fabrication and assembly, stands next to the 22-inch-diameter pneumatic cannon in building 18.

The impact test facility was located in a 500-foot-long concrete channel near building 103 which was used in the 1940s for the hydrobomb project. A 10-foot- diameter, 25-foot-long chamber was placed in the channel, with the cannon at one end. The webbed basket was inside the chamber, with the ram passing through a sealed opening. The chamber was placed under a vacuum of 2 psi in order to simulate the conditions of space. The Ramset pistol on the floor was used to release the internal piston. High speed motion picture cameras recorded the tests as the impact limiter was pushed into a target at the far end of the chamber. A catch screen made of chain link fence dropped down as the limiter passed the center of the tank, to prevent it from rebounding into the launcher basket.