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Thread: Parachute landing of Mars Rover??

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  1. #1
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    Parachute landing of Mars Rover??

    I have no idea what I'm talking about, so can you guys wise me up? I've seen at least 2 TV news vids of the Rover landing on Mars and they all show a parachute being used. If there's no air/atmosphere as we know it, how can a chute be in any way effective to soften the landing?

  2. #2
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    Just because there is "no air/atmosphere as we know it" does not mean there is NO air.
    The parachute is large and the rover probably has good shock absorbers and reinforced parts.
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    JD11 (23rd February 2021)


  3. #3
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    I don't know much about it either, but I have read that Mars does have an atmosphere although it is of a different makeup from Earths atmosphere and is much thinner. That being said, I am sure a parachute would work...but would need to be of different dimensions from what would work in Earths atmosphere. I agree with Jim Watsons posts about shock absorbers and reinforced parts in addition to a 'chute. Maybe Matt Damon will chime in...after all, wasn't he stuck on Mars for an extended period of time
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    JD11 (23rd February 2021), Mark75H (21st February 2021)


  4. #4
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    Mars does have an atmosphere. Also, I believe the force of gravity is lower on Mars than it is on earth, which means that the rover weighs less on Mars than on Earth.
    Hawkmoon
    On a good day, can hit the broad side of a barn ... from the inside
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    JD11 (23rd February 2021)


  5. #5
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    IIRC, Mars' atmosphere is mostly CO2 from the frozen CO2 ice at the poles. And the lower gravity is a big part of why the atmosphere is a lot thinner there than here. Things kinda balanced out. So the parachute worked just fine. And the rover was lowered on a tether so there wasn't too much stress on the shocks.
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    JD11 (23rd February 2021), Mark75H (21st February 2021)


  6. #6
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    There was also a rocket attached to the chute to ( I believe ) slow descent.
    Likes (2) :
    JD11 (23rd February 2021), Mark75H (21st February 2021)


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