Phoenix parachute question

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tttccc
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Phoenix parachute question

Post by tttccc » Sun May 25, 2008 9:38 pm

After the parachute detaches and the craft lands, what is keeping the chute from falling on the craft and covering its instruments?

Dr. Skeptic
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Re: Phoenix parachute question

Post by Dr. Skeptic » Mon May 26, 2008 5:01 am

tttccc wrote:After the parachute detaches and the craft lands, what is keeping the chute from falling on the craft and covering its instruments?
A programed maneuver by the lander's thrusters.
Speculation ≠ Science

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iamlucky13
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Post by iamlucky13 » Mon May 26, 2008 5:15 pm

Right.

The parachute actually detaches before landing. The final descent is thrusters only. Theoretically the wind should blow the parachute and backshell further than the lander because their less dense, but just in case, the lander aims itself slightly upwind.

The Phoenix team had a good article about some of the engineering challenges they faced and how they overcame them, including the your parachute question.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoen ... 80508.html
"Any man whose errors take ten years to correct is quite a man." ~J. Robert Oppenheimer (speaking about Albert Einstein)

tttccc
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Thanks

Post by tttccc » Mon May 26, 2008 8:45 pm

Thanks all,
good answers, good link!

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JohnD
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Post by JohnD » Tue May 27, 2008 3:00 pm

Like this?
(14-22 secs. in)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjiGH9QNiU0
John

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Post by makc » Wed May 28, 2008 4:31 pm


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THX1138
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Post by THX1138 » Fri May 30, 2008 3:07 am

On the nasa tv site today there was a report of sustained 15 mph north easterly winds at the landing site, sure hope that, that wind stays that direction. Sure would be a drag to have that parachute come back to haunt us.

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