
Parachute Problems
Clip: Season 39 Episode 15 | 2m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
NASA untangles why a parachute failed during tests prior to the Curiosity landing.
While testing Curiosity’s parachute in the world’s largest wind tunnel, JPL scientists and engineers were confounded by a failed trial run. The parachute had never failed to open in the past, so why this strange anomaly? By replicating the error and analyzing it in high-resolution footage, they were able to pinpoint the problem.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.

Parachute Problems
Clip: Season 39 Episode 15 | 2m 54sVideo has Closed Captions
While testing Curiosity’s parachute in the world’s largest wind tunnel, JPL scientists and engineers were confounded by a failed trial run. The parachute had never failed to open in the past, so why this strange anomaly? By replicating the error and analyzing it in high-resolution footage, they were able to pinpoint the problem.
Problems playing video? | Closed Captioning Feedback
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Video has Closed Captions
Preview: S39 Ep15 | 30s | Airs Wednesday, December 11, 2013 at 9:00 p.m. ET/PT. Check your local listings. (30s)
Video has Closed Captions
Clip: S39 Ep15 | 1m 34s | Engineers who landed the Curiosity rover on Mars recall their early love of space. (1m 34s)
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National Corporate funding for NOVA is provided by Carlisle Companies. Major funding for NOVA is provided by the NOVA Science Trust, the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and PBS viewers.