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Parachute Problems

NASA untangles why a parachute failed during tests prior to the Curiosity landing.

Aired 01/24/2013 | Rating NR

NOVA

Parachute Problems

Clip: Season 39 Episode 15 | 2m 54sVideo has Closed Captions

NASA untangles why a parachute failed during tests prior to the Curiosity landing.

While testing Curiosity’s parachute in the world’s largest wind tunnel, JPL scientists and engineers were confounded by a failed trial run. The parachute had never failed to open in the past, so why this strange anomaly? By replicating the error and analyzing it in high-resolution footage, they were able to pinpoint the problem.

Aired 01/24/2013 | Rating NR

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Airs Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings. (30s)

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National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

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