Elspode • Sep 8, 2004 4:21 pm
Another embarassment for NASA today as the eagerly anticipated solar wind particle return mission, Genesis, failed to deploy its parachutes and smashed into Utah's Dugway Testing Range at nearly 200 mph.
The impact buried the sample return capsule to nearly half its width in the hardpack, well within the safety zone established for just such a contingency. The capsule was remarkably intact, all things considered, but it was fractured open, and the fragile solar particle collectors are likely both smashed and contaminated inside the craft.
Good thing this wasn't a manned mission, huh? The cost of this mission? $260 million dollars...but I'm not being critical. It is amazing they can do this stuff at all, and it is risky. I mean, the thing may have impacted the desert, but it impacted the desert right where they said it would.
I watched it live on NASA TV online this morning. Not pretty, but it was cool that I could watch it.
The impact buried the sample return capsule to nearly half its width in the hardpack, well within the safety zone established for just such a contingency. The capsule was remarkably intact, all things considered, but it was fractured open, and the fragile solar particle collectors are likely both smashed and contaminated inside the craft.
Good thing this wasn't a manned mission, huh? The cost of this mission? $260 million dollars...but I'm not being critical. It is amazing they can do this stuff at all, and it is risky. I mean, the thing may have impacted the desert, but it impacted the desert right where they said it would.
I watched it live on NASA TV online this morning. Not pretty, but it was cool that I could watch it.