genesis crash

yesterday the nasa genesis probe came back to earth after having completed its 6-year mission of recovering solar particles. the method of recovery was supposed to be a mid-air helicopter snag of the capsule as even with a parachute scientists were afraid that a hard landing would damage the delicate contents inside. unfortunately the parachutes didn't deploy and the capsule crashed into the desert at a velocity of almost 200mph. it was damaged but scientists are saying that some of its payload may be recoverable, though this looks optimistic given the care they wanted to give the sample.

unfortunately it looks like the stardust mission that collected particles from a comet may face a similar fate when it returns in 2006 as it uses the same re-entry system as genesis.

nasa has had a fair amount of troubles in recent years, though the success of the rover missions made people forget a lot of the previous problems. i can't imagine that bush's manned mission to mars will ever be a reality in my lifetime given the complexity and dangers involved.