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Genesis Capsule Crashes; Chutes Blamed
Cyclotron_Boy writes "The Genesis probe (reported here) has crashed to the ground, near a road in the Utah desert. The stunt chopper pilots were not to blame, though. The drogue chute didn't open on re-entry. NASA TV is covering it currently. The choppers have landed near the probe, but no word yet as to the condition of the space dust." Many readers have also pointed to CNN's coverage. Update: 09/08 16:39 GMT by J : MSNBC has more coverage and a sad photo of the half-buried capsule: "The capsule broke open on impact. It was not yet clear whether the $260 million Genesis mission was ruined."
Nothing for you to see here. Please move along.
Just a splat on the windsheild.
I was watching the footage via a free webcast. This must surely be the result of more corporate pennypinching, how can our space agency carry out its missions effectively when inferior equipment is used and vital corners cut?
Gee... Who'da thordit!
That this thing hit the deck is about as suprising as finding Paris Hilton's sex video on edonkey.
Why don't they go back to dropping things in the ocean? Sure, hit water fast enough and its like hitting a brickwall, but slow down enough and at least you won't break everybody bone in your leg (figuratively, of course)
Can't believe the 'chute failed tho. Its not like parachutes are a new untested technology.
Norman Cook's Ode to Sl
They're playing games with the taxpayers dollar.
There is a NASA interview about this incident with some more details over at Tech News Live. It seems that there might have been some fabrication problems that could have been to blame, as well as the usual "blame someone else" mentality from those who contstructed the systems. Smells like another scandal here.
No, no, no.
There is no such thing as deceleration. It is just negative acceleration.
I've just signed legislation that'll outlaw Russia forever. We'll begin bombing in five minutes.
jesus fucking christ on a stick.
Yes, commercialize NASA since there is no such thing as accountability in the government. Should also fire all these quack jobs that think parachutes are the answer to everything. This isn't a freaking $260 million egg-drop contest. Kinda sad that these engineers would lose to most 4th graders. If it is landing in the desert, use thrusters, sheesh. And since this is such a waste of tax money, all those involved in this failure should be fined so the money can be repaid. Most companies are successful in suing negligent employees and winning amounts consistent with the failure they produce.
They were able to get into the internal nevigation system via a console port and retrieve a crash screen. This is all they've got so far but seems to indicate a major problem.
Well if they'd done a better job, this might not have happened. Leave it to unionized goverment workers to foul it up.
You mean your inflatable sperm whale, no? Make sure to give her a nice bowl of petunias...