NASA Genesis Mishap Report – Executive Summary

NASA has posted the Genesis Mission Mishap Investigation Board Report on the agency’s Web site.

The report details the findings of the 15-member board that investigated why the drogue parachute and parafoil systems failed to properly deploy and slow the Genesis Sample Return Capsule during re-entry. With nothing to slow its descent, the capsule crashed into the Utah desert landing zone on September 8, 2004.

The Genesis Mishap Investigation Board Report is available at:

http://www.nasa.gov/genesis

Genesis was launched Aug. 8, 2001, from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on a mission to collect solar wind particles. Sample collection began Dec. 5, 2001, and completed April 1, 2004. After an extensive recovery effort following impact, the first scientific samples from Genesis arrived at NASA’s Johnson Space Center, Houston, Oct. 4, 2004.

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