Mars probe was spun into confusion before crash landing

AN ELECTRONIC dizzy spell caused by spinning too fast led the European Space Agency (Esa) probe Schiaparelli to crash land on Mars, investigators have found.

Three minutes after entering the Martian atmosphere, “unexpected high rotation” resulted in “saturation” of an instrument in the craft tracking spin rate.

The unexpected interference led to a major altitude error. Schiaparelli’s computer determined that it was below ground level when in reality the probe was still two miles up. This caused the craft to release its parachute and back shell early, and firing its landing thrusters for three seconds instead of 30.

The probe plunged to its destruction, hitting the surface at an estimated 335mph on October 19 last year.

David Parker, Esa’s director of human spaceflight and exploration, said: “Landing on Mars is an unforgiving challenge, but one that we must meet to achieve our ultimate goals,”

The agency is preparing to launch a rover to search for signs of life on the Red Planet in three years time.