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This artist's rendering shows Pathfinder's final descent through the Martian atmosphere just minutes before it comes to a complete halt on the Martian surface. The spacecraft is enclosed in a huge cocoon of airbags, which has just been cut from a bridle, backshield and parachute. The spacecraft, protected inside the airbags, will bounce as high as a five-story building before stopping. Once it is stationary, motion detectors onboard the spacecraft will sense the lack of movement and trigger a mechanism that will deflate and retract the airbags. Painting by Pat Rawlings, SAIC.
Description
This artist's rendering shows Pathfinder's final descent through the Martian atmosphere just minutes before it comes to a complete halt on the Martian surface. The spacecraft is enclosed in a huge cocoon of airbags, which has just been cut from a bridle, backshield and parachute. The spacecraft, protected inside the airbags, will bounce as high as a five-story building before stopping. Once it is stationary, motion detectors onboard the spacecraft will sense the lack of movement and trigger a mechanism that will deflate and retract the airbags. Painting by Pat Rawlings, SAIC.
Description
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