British space penetrator passes icy test (BBC)

[eppur_se_muova]

Article written by Jonathan Amos
Science correspondent

UK engineers have tested a projectile technology that they believe could be used to explore the Solar System.

The steel penetrator was fired at a 10-tonne cube of ice to simulate the surface of Jupiter's moon Europa.

It hit the block at a speed of 340m/s and decelerated rapidly, but its structure remained intact, as did its interior components.

Researchers say the penetrator would be a robust and inexpensive way to land instruments on other worlds.

These might be seismometers to study the interior of Mars, or a miniature organic chemistry laboratory to check for microbial activity on icy Jovian satellites.
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more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23281423
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23282295



Why a penetrator? To get below the surface quickly and simply, and avoid the complications of retrorockets. Not every target has an atmosphere, so parachutes are out.

[bananas]

1. Lithobraking

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithobraking

Lithobraking is a landing technique used by unmanned space vehicles to safely reach the surface of a celestial body while reducing landing speed by impact with the body's surface.

The word was probably coined as a whimsical adaptation of aerobraking, which is the process of slowing a space vehicle by the use of friction against a planet's atmosphere. Lithos is a Greek word meaning "rock" or "stone."

<snip>

The term is also sometimes used[2] as a euphemism to describe situations in which lithobraking was not the original desired landing method - i.e., crashes.

http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=lithobraking

1. lithobraking

Rapid deceleration of a spacecraft or other projectile due to impact, possibly unintentional, with a planetary surface. Compare to aerobraking.

The unfortunate confusion between Imperial and SI units caused a larger-than-expected atmospheric entry angle, resulting in a catastrophic lithobraking approach.

[eppur_se_muova]

2. HA ! :^D nt

[DetlefK]

3. Combine that with an internal cushion and you are good to go.

I'm thinking of a hollow projectile, filled with a non-newtonian fluid or a granular substance, and inside this is the probe itself.

The cushion would absorb the shock and then the rear of the projectile would open and the probe could crawl out.