Sentences with phrase «descent stage»
The phrase "descent stage" refers to a part of a spacecraft that is designed to help it land safely on another planet or moon. It is responsible for slowing down the spacecraft's descent and guiding it to a soft landing on the surface. Full definition
The rover's landing included a hypersonic parachute ride, then an acrobatic sky - crane maneuver involving a retro - rocket - powered descent stage that
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The data have been partially analysed and confirm that the entry and descent stages occurred as expected, with events diverging from what was expected after the ejection of the back heat shield and parachute.
NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO), which reached orbit around the moon last month, passed over the Sea of Tranquility on Sunday and spied the Apollo 11 lunar module descent stage, still resting on the surface.
Team Astrobotic plans to send its rover to see how the descent stage of the Apollo 11 lunar module looks after 40 years on the moon and so gain insights into how to design future lunar equipment.
* Anchored atop the departure stage is a composite shroud protecting the lunar surface access module, which includes the descent stage that will carry explorers to the moon's surface and the ascent stage that will return them to lunar orbit to rendezvous with the Orion Spacecraft (Crew Exploration Vehicle) for their return home.
The seven Descent Imaging Cameras will provide the spacecraft with four views including look - up cameras from the descent stage which will record images and video of a parachute deploying and inflating on another planet for the first time.
Along with the look - up cameras, the descent stage will have look - down cameras to view the rover from above, while the rover will have look - up cameras to see how the descent stage is operating as it is lowered from the sky crane.