KOBIE BOYKINS (CONT.): It’s the scariest thing you could ever think of. Because Mars and Earth aren’t right next to each other. Mars and Earth are a long way away. And so, the communication time from the rover saying, “Hey, I’m doing this,” to Earth is 10 minutes. You’re pointed at Mars and there is nothing you can do other than hope they survive. JENNIFER TROSPER: We call it the six minutes of terror. It’s the time from when the spacecraft enters the top of the Martian atmosphere until it does all the autonomous, all on its own, activities it needs to do to get safely landed on the ground.
PRODUCTION ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Engineer: “Atmospheric entry in 3, 2, 1.”
ILM SFX ANIMATION: MWS: Spirit makes final turn to entry and deploys cruise stage.
JENNIFER TROSPER: Everything is on the line in the six minutes of terror.
GFX LOWER THIRD: OPPORTUNITY / SPIRIT
PRODUCTION ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Engineer: “The vehicle has now hit the top of the Martian atmosphere. At time of peak heating, heat shield will keep temperatures upwards of 600° Celsius.”
ILM SFX ANIMATION: CU: Inside the lander. We see Spirit curled up inside the shaking vehicle.
ILM SFX ANIMATION: Up angle, as aeroshell descends from space towards us, we push toward aeroshell, as heat shield deflects fire… heat effect diminishes as we approach aeroshell.
KOBIE BOYKINS: Parachute opens, slows you down more.
PRODUCTION ARCHIVAL FOOTAGE: Engineer: “Current velocity is 446 mph. At this time we expect the vehicle has gone subsonic.”
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