Jolt to Nasa as Mars supersonic parachute ruptures during experiment - Hindustan Times

Nasa scientists working toward putting people on Mars said on Tuesday a supersonic parachute they are developing to slow a vehicle's approach to the Red Planet partially deployed in a test, but immediately ripped apart.

It was the second such test of the enormous parachute, the largest supersonic chute ever deployed, which is being designed to slow the three-ton test craft as it travels at more than twice the speed of sound.

Nasa engineers said on Tuesday that the parachute in the latest test had fared little better, and ripped apart as it became fully unfurled.

"Preliminary analysis of imagery and other data received during the test indicates the Supersonic Ringsail parachute deployed," Nasa said in a statement.

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