ExoMars and Schiaparelli
Discussion
MartG said:
No, That was NASA's Mars Climate Orbiter.
Beagle 2 is believed to have failed due to an improperly opening solar panel blocking antenna deployment after landing
More a commentary on failed attempts at Mars. There have been a few.Beagle 2 is believed to have failed due to an improperly opening solar panel blocking antenna deployment after landing
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_missions_to_...
According to ESA on Twitter the data from Mars Express is inconclusive so they still don't know the status of the lander.
Now waiting for a pass from MRO to see what they can find.
It will be a big shame if the landing didn't go to plan - not sure what that will mean for the planned rover.
Now waiting for a pass from MRO to see what they can find.
It will be a big shame if the landing didn't go to plan - not sure what that will mean for the planned rover.
"The carrier signal from Schiaparelli recorded by Mars Express abruptly ended shortly before landing, just as the beacon tone received by a ground-based radio telescope in India stopped in real-time earlier today.
Paolo Ferri, head of ESA's mission operations department, just gave an update on the situation.
"We saw the signal through the atmospheric phase -- the descent phase. At a certain point, it stopped," Ferri said. "This was unexpected, but we couldn't conclude anything from that because this very weak signal picked up on the ground was coming from an experimental tool.
"We (waited) for the Mars Express measurement, which was taken in parallel, and it was of the same kind. It was only recording the radio signal. The Mars Express measurement came at 1830 (CEST) and confirmed exactly the same: the signal went through the majority of the descent phase, and it stopped at a certain point that we reckon was before the landing.
"There could be many many reasons for that," Ferri said. "It's clear these are not good signs, but we will need more information."
The newly-arrived Trace Gas Orbiter recorded detailed telemetry broadcast by Schiaparelli -- not just the beacon signal -- and that data should be beamed back to Earth overnight, he said.
"This is fundamental because we should remember that this landing was a test, and as part of the test, you want to know what happened," Ferri said.
Officials hope to share more on what they know about Schiaparelli's fate in a press conference tomorrow at 0800 GMT (4 a.m. EDT)."
Paolo Ferri, head of ESA's mission operations department, just gave an update on the situation.
"We saw the signal through the atmospheric phase -- the descent phase. At a certain point, it stopped," Ferri said. "This was unexpected, but we couldn't conclude anything from that because this very weak signal picked up on the ground was coming from an experimental tool.
"We (waited) for the Mars Express measurement, which was taken in parallel, and it was of the same kind. It was only recording the radio signal. The Mars Express measurement came at 1830 (CEST) and confirmed exactly the same: the signal went through the majority of the descent phase, and it stopped at a certain point that we reckon was before the landing.
"There could be many many reasons for that," Ferri said. "It's clear these are not good signs, but we will need more information."
The newly-arrived Trace Gas Orbiter recorded detailed telemetry broadcast by Schiaparelli -- not just the beacon signal -- and that data should be beamed back to Earth overnight, he said.
"This is fundamental because we should remember that this landing was a test, and as part of the test, you want to know what happened," Ferri said.
Officials hope to share more on what they know about Schiaparelli's fate in a press conference tomorrow at 0800 GMT (4 a.m. EDT)."
Simpo Two said:
'The primary goal of the ExoMars programme is to address the question of whether life has ever existed on Mars.'
Ha, that old chestnut. The answer will be 'maybe'.
It didn't even get that far.Ha, that old chestnut. The answer will be 'maybe'.
Imagine a lander weighing half a ton that can not only land but then work for years! Oh look, we did that in 1976. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Viking_program. Copy that and put some new gubbins in it.
I'm wondering how much intensive testing ESA have been doing on their landers. I get the feeling it just hasn't been as rigorous as the testing NASA have done on theirs.
As for copying Viking - this lander was not intended to emulate Viking. It was a "proof of technology" device which would only do very limited science. ESA plans to leapfrog Viking and go straight to a Curiosity style rover. I think they just aren't doing their homework.
And just been announced that the parachute opened too early during the descent. That would have caused the chute to shred and disintegrate.
As for copying Viking - this lander was not intended to emulate Viking. It was a "proof of technology" device which would only do very limited science. ESA plans to leapfrog Viking and go straight to a Curiosity style rover. I think they just aren't doing their homework.
And just been announced that the parachute opened too early during the descent. That would have caused the chute to shred and disintegrate.
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