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posted by cmn32480 on Tuesday November 08 2016, @01:57AM   Printer-friendly
from the locate-the-black-box dept.

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-37898565

Attention is focussed on how the probe interpreted sensor readings during its ill-fated descent to the Red Planet. Schiaparelli's parachute and rocket system did not behave as expected. The former was jettisoned too early and the latter fired for too short a period.

"The onboard computer had some problems taking data from different sources, and defining correctly the altitude; and because of that the engines were started for only three seconds which was not enough," explained Prof Jan Woerner. "When the parachute was deployed, it worked. But then some acceleration happened that we do not understand. Was it that the parachute did not deploy fully? We do not know."

The ESA is asking for 11 billion euros from 22 member nations for upcoming space missions. ESA is an international organization that is not a part of the EU, so Brexit is not expected to affect the UK's participation.

Color photographs of the "landing".


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  • (Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 08 2016, @11:35AM

    by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday November 08 2016, @11:35AM (#424022)

    We should send a bunch of lawyers up front.

  • (Score: 2) by Fnord666 on Tuesday November 08 2016, @12:52PM

    by Fnord666 (652) on Tuesday November 08 2016, @12:52PM (#424043) Homepage
    Now you're just trying to start an interplanetary incident.