In October 2016 a European spacecraft had almost landed on Mars, surviving the heat, the parachute, and the radar, when its sensor was overwhelmed for barely a second — just long enough for the computer to decide it was already on the ground, shut off its engines, and drop the lander 2.3 miles onto the surface at 335 miles an hour.

In October 2016 a European spacecraft had almost landed on Mars, surviving the heat, the parachute, and the radar, when its sensor was overwhelmed for barely a second — just long enough for the computer to decide it was already on the ground, shut off its engines, and drop the lander 2.3 miles onto the surface at 335 miles an hour.

Getting to Mars is quite the achievement. That’s why every major power, not just the United States, or even an aspiring major power (like India), has tried to get to Mars. Many have failed. Few have succeeded. For the Americans, getting unmanned systems to Mars is routine nowadays. But even for the Americans, not every mission has been a success.  Space Probe at the Smithsonian. Image Credit: 19FortyFive.com The European Union (EU) dreamed of va…