GETTING THE DROP on planet

摘要

Landing on Mars is a high-risk endeavour with no room for error. In just six minutes, a descent module with its precious cargo cocooned inside has to slow from around 21,000 km/h at the top of the planet's atmosphere, to a soft landing at the surface controlled by the lander's propulsion system. For ExoMars 2020, which comprises the Rosalind Franklin rover to explore the planet for signs of life, and the Kazachok surface platform to monitor the local environment at the landing site, a two-parachute system is used, each with its own pilot chute for extraction. The first main parachute has a diameter of 15 m and will be deployed while the descent module is still travelling at supersonic speeds. The second main parachute has a 35 m diameter, the largest to ever fly on Mars.