SPACE TRAVEL 101:
      FUNDAMENTALS OF SPACE TRAVEL
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 Spacecraft - Atmospheric

Analysis

An atmospheric spacecraft is usually brought to its destination by another spacecraft in order to collect information about the planet's atmosphere. Therefore, the spacecraft often does not require a propulsion subsystem, although it does need an electric power supply and equipment for gathering data. The spacecraft uses a parachute to slow its decent, and has an aeroshell that protects it from extreme temperatures during atmospheric entry. Information collected include the atmosphere's composition, temperature, pressure, density, cloud content and lightning. Examples include the Galileo Atmospheric Probe (Jupiter), Mars Balloon (Mars), and Pioneer 13 (Venus).