Word is, it was a problem with the explosive-driven chute release system. Maybe it just got too hot from the sun, and the chemistry of the explosive went bad somehow. If it's the same chute system on Stardust, and if it's not related to solar proximity - well, somehow I don't think Sean O'Keefe is going to scramble a robotic mission to save Stardust. ;-)
A NASA old-timer going back to well before it was NASA (Max Faget, I think) said something smart once: it's really hard to make something work only from the laws of chemistry and physics, but if you can, you generally should. Ablative shielding, for example, is not mechanical at all. But something like a two-stage parachute system, designed to trigger on reentry and not before, is mechanically and electronically complex. Yet it's hard to imagine anything simpler that would give you a decently low rate of descent in the lower atmosphere. I think the Russians lost a couple cosmonauts to chute system failure. -michael turner [EMAIL PROTECTED] ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Latrell" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Thursday, September 09, 2004 6:51 AM Subject: Re: Latest News from the Astrobiology Magazine > > Yeah, but what of Stardust? It uses the same recovery technique. I > sense a lot of engineers scrambling right about now. > > Joe L. > > Reeve, Jack W. wrote: > > > Sorry Larry, et al. Genesis tunneled into the desert sand unimpeded by > > a parachute. It's a mess. > > > > *Jack W. Reeve* > > > > **-----Original Message----- > > *From:* LARRY KLAES [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > > *Sent:* Wednesday 08 September 2004 16:11 > > *To:* setipublic > > *Cc:* BioAstro; europa > > *Subject:* Fw: Latest News from the Astrobiology Magazine > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > *From:* Astrobiology Magazine <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > *To:* [EMAIL PROTECTED] <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > *Sent:* Wednesday, September 08, 2004 5:33 AM > > *Subject:* Latest News from the Astrobiology Magazine > > > > > > Time to Collect the Corona > > http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1183.html > > > > If all goes as planned, the sample capsule from the Genesis spacecraft > > will be returning to Earth on Wednesday morning. The spacecraft has > > spent the past two years collecting the solar wind. > > > > Rebuilding the Biggest Building > > http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1182.html > > > > One of the world's largest buildings sustained damage over the weekend > > as hurricane Frances pounded a natural scar on the face of a manmade > > wonder. Florida's Space Coast has witnessed many launches designed > > specifically to study and predict the damaging effects of > > hurricanes--one of the few storms so large that it can best be viewed > > from orbit. > > > > Death Star Lookalike > > http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1181.html > > > > Saturn's satellite, Mimas, can be imaged from afar and imagined up > > close, but its striking resemblance to the fictional Death Star from > > Star Wars gives the most dramatic view of its violent past. > > > > Giving Up the Galactic Ghost > > http://www.astrobio.net/news/article1180.html > > > > While a terrestrial view of a galaxy might disguise the turbulent, > > changing mergers that fuel their formation, a famous cluster called > > Stephan's Quintet shows that seemingly immutable stars are always in flux. > > > > Wednesday, September 08 > > > > ------------------------ > > For more astrobiology news, visit http://www.astrobio.net > > > > To unsubscribe, send subject UNSUBSCRIBE to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > <mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > > > > > > > > == > You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/ > == You are subscribed to the Europa Icepick mailing list: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Project information and list (un)subscribe info: http://klx.com/europa/
