Talk:Smile, You're on Mars Camera/@comment-2605:6000:3F83:F100:310F:C6A8:A97:24F1-20200119070045

The trivia states that the "satellite" would have descended to Earth by means of a parachute. This is incorrect since the probe was designed to land on Mars. The atmosphere of Mars is so thin (~1% that of Earth) that a parachute would be ineffective in slowing it down to a landing speed. A parachute may have been used to slow the probe down to around 100-150 miles per hour, but final descent would have to be by retro-rockets. Prior to firing the retro-rockets, the parachute would have to be disconnected to prevent it from becoming entangled with the probe while the rockets are firing. This is how the Viking probes landed on Mars in 1976. So, if a parachute was used, it could be several miles away.

The probe's landing could explain why the lens popped out so quickly. Since the probe was designed to land on Mars, the designers were only expecting Mars gravity (~40% that of Earth's). Since it landed on Earth, the retro-rockets would not slow it down as much as it should have, so the probe would have made a very hard landing. This could have jolted the lens loose.

Also, calling the probe a "satellite" is also incorrect since by definition, a satellite is an object which orbits another body. Since it landed, it's not a satellite, but a probe.