illuminating science

…but there is no way I could handle the stress that these guys are in.  They’re aiming for a tiny spot of just 20km x 60km on a planet that takes 15 minutes for the light to reach us that is shooting around the sun AND rotating. After hitting the atmosphere, they release a parachute to slow down, but then ditch the parachute, dropping at 120mph, before the thrusters fire, lowering the lander to the surface at a gently 5mph. And all this in just 7 minutes.  Worst of all, because it takes the signal 15 minutes to reach Earth, the whole landing will be over before we even hear about it - so everything is automated.

After a 10 month journey, these guys must be really quite stressed! EDL (entry-descent-landing) will be starting soon - connectivity has been established! Go and watch it live!