[LibWhacker]

He's dead, Jim.

[DoughtyOne]

Europe succeeded in placing a methane-sniffing spacecraft Cocker Spaniel in orbit around Mars today

[Talisker]

The secret landing is a success. Transmissions have been switched to 666KHz. All systems are nominal, and communications with the aliens have been initiated.

[Moonman62]

If Schiaparelli did stick its landing, the maneuver would mark the first fully successful Mars touchdown by Europe or Russia — by any entity other than NASA, as a matter of fact.

...

I’d say the US is still the only one. The surface of Mars is a tough destination.

[Frank_2001]

For a methane-sniffing spacecraft, the ideal destination is Uranus!!! ;)

[tumblindice]

“1,350 MPH”

It gets pushed out of shape and its hard to steer, when it gets rubber in all four gears

And if that ain’t enough to make you flip your lid, I got the pink slip daddy

[RockyTx]

OK, so the lander is toast.

give ESA credit for at least trying
something new

[bert]

——but stopped shortly before the lander was scheduled to hit the ground,——

the AAA got it, for sure

[hattend]

Schiaparelli's signal came in loud and clear as the lander streaked through the Martian atmosphere but stopped shortly before the lander was scheduled to hit the ground,

They should have tried for a soft landing instead of hitting the ground.