Previously I've blogged about NASA's Phoenix project during its launch and journey through space. On the 25th May Phoenix will start its entry into Mars' atmosphere and take the dangerous 20 minutes to the surface. 14 minutes prior to landing, Phoenix will enter the upper atmosphere at 20,000 kph, slowing through atmospheric friction to a more sedate speed allowing the deployment of parachutes to slow the craft further. At a speed of 400 kph, the heat shield will be jettisoned and the undercarriage will be deployed. The craft will then slow further to a speed of approximately 200 kph. At this speed and only a few seconds from impact at 1 km above the surface, the parachutes will be jettisoned and the craft will be slowed using small thrusters to slow its decent and maintain its attitude.
It is hoped that the ground designated for landing will not be strewn with large stones which may impact on the underside of the probe and pierce through the outer protective shell damaging the equipment inside. That said, the NASA engineers should have done their homework to ensure that this area is relatively safe.
Here the engineers talk about the project and the decent into the atmosphere.
And part two...
I'm certainly looking forward to the next instalment....
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