Performance of the Week

Performance of the Week Sep. 20, 2004

Smashing into the Utah desert at nearly 200 m.p.h. was no way to end a space mission, but that's just what the GENESIS spacecraft did last week. After a three-year flight to collect samples of the solar wind, Genesis was supposed to re-enter the atmosphere, deploy its parachutes and be snagged in midair by a Hollywood helicopter pilot. But the chutes failed to open. NASA scientists believe some samples may nonetheless have survived intact.

...

Want the full story?

Subscribe Now

Subscribe
Subscribe

Learn more about the benefits of being a TIME subscriber

If you are already a subscriber sign up — registration is free!