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Emily Lakdawalla • May 26, 2008

OMG!! Parachute!!!! Photo!!!!!

One word: Whoah.

HiRISE spots Phoenix as it falls

NASA / JPL / U. Arizona

HiRISE spots Phoenix as it falls
This amazing photo shows the Phoenix lander, still protected inside its backshell and heat shield, stretched out below its parachute (at the top of the image). It was taken by the HiRISE camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter as Phoenix descended, a speeding bullet photographed by a speeding bullet.
4x zoomed view of HiRISE photo of Phoenix during descent

NASA / JPL / U. Arizona

4x zoomed view of HiRISE photo of Phoenix during descent
This photo of the Phoenix lander under its parachute has been enlarged by a factor of 4.

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