Phoenix EDL on Mars
In about two hours -- at 4:38 Pacific time -- the Phoenix lander is expected to touch down.
This is the EDL phase -- Entry/Descent/Landing -- that produces the "seven minutes of terror" among the Phoenix team members.
Here's an interesting animation of the spacecraft.
And the EDL phase is discussed at some length here, with scenes from the above animation.
If Phoenix makes it successfully, it will raise our track record to 50% -- 6 of 12 successful touchdowns.
I wish them success.
===|==============/ Level Head
This is the EDL phase -- Entry/Descent/Landing -- that produces the "seven minutes of terror" among the Phoenix team members.
Here's an interesting animation of the spacecraft.
And the EDL phase is discussed at some length here, with scenes from the above animation.
If Phoenix makes it successfully, it will raise our track record to 50% -- 6 of 12 successful touchdowns.
I wish them success.
===|==============/ Level Head