Illustration of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Schiaparelli EDM lander approaching the Martian surface. This spacecraft, which was testing landing

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Illustration of the European Space Agency's (ESA) Schiaparelli EDM lander approaching the Martian surface. This spacecraft, which was testing landing technologies, attempted to land on Mars on 19th October 2016. Contact was lost during the descent and telemetry data indicates the parachute was ejected too soon and the thrusters switched off prematurely, leading to the lander hitting the surface at a speed of around 300 kilometres per hour. Images from the crash site suggest that the fuel tank may have exploded on impact. Schiaparelli was part of the ExoMars programme and was launched in March 2016.

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Size: 5315px × 3543px
Photo credit: © DETLEV VAN RAVENSWAAY/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: artwork, astronomical, astronomy, demonstrator, edm, exomars, exploration, failed, illustration, lander, landing, mars, martian, module, planetary, schiaparelli, science, solar, spacecraft, surface, system, technological, technology, unmanned, unsuccessful