While you're all waiting for a signal from the lander you may be interested in the aerothermodynamics testing of the the module at a ballistic range - http://i.

While you're all waiting for a signal from the lander you may be interested in the aerothermodynamics testing of the the module at a ballistic range - http://i.imgur.com/Xs6NdMC.gifv http://i.imgur.com/Xs6NdMC.gifv Some more reading can be found at ESA's website http://exploration.esa.int/mars/49139-aerothermodynamic-tests/ http://exploration.esa.int/mars/49139-aerothermodynamic-test... EDL (Entry Descent and Landing) on Mars is such a tricky thing because it has a thin enough atmosphere parachutes don't work well, but enough atmosphere that you have to take it into account when controlling/designing the landing module (hence Schiaparelli's complex aerothermodynamics testing). This is also why NASA's Curiosity rover had such a complex "sky crane" system and why NASA is willing to provide SpaceX communications support in exchange for the EDL data of SpaceX's landing module (the Red Dragon mission).