The Martian atmosphere is much less dense than our own, something on the order of 2% of Earth's atmospheric density. In addition, the entry velocity is considerably less than something reentering our atmosphere, if memory serves. Given the fact that pieces from Earth satellites do sometimes survive reentry into our atmosphere, it seems likely that MCO didn't completely vaporize on Mars. Whether the temperatures would've been high enough to sterilize the pieces on the way through the atmosphere is unknown, but it seems likely.
I would encourage all spacecraft bound for Mars to be sterilized to the extent possible, even those destined for orbit instead of landing. It might be a good idea to see if it's possible to design vehicles so they would completely vaporize in the event of an unplanned reentry. That might be difficult for some parts like propellant tanks, though.
Space/Science » in reply to re: Sterilization procedures
re: Sterilization procedures
The whole thread (31 posts)
- Nozomi
- Could they use the gravity of Phobos in a sling-shot manuever? (n/t)
- That's amazing accuracy
- Why is Nozomi's $86 million dollar pricetag being conveniently hidden by the sponsorship seeking U.S. space media? (n/t)
- It's 200 million According To Spacedaily and It Appears To Be 100% Wasted
- Stop Spamming This Board
- You would be much happier doing people's income tax for a living.
- re: Hidden? How? You know it? Rich, if they fail to recover from this...$86 million dollars thrown away is worthless...they needed more testing... (n/t)
- Sterilization procedures
- Galileo was sent into Jupiter because Europa has no atmosphere to vaporize a spacecraft before it hits. (n/t)
- re: Sterilization procedures
- re: Sterilization procedures
- re: Sterilization procedures
- re: The USSR sent several landers to Mars that were pretty much unsterilized... (n/t)
- re: Sterilization procedures