re: #17 O say, does that Star Spangled Banner yet wave..

Mars landings are incredibly tricky affairs because the atmosphere is so thin, so vehicles have to be able to slow themselves down in addition to aerobraking and provide sufficient downward thrust to keep the thing from just falling to the ground when its forward momentum is too slow to generate lift.

My proudest professional achievement is being part of the design team and test lead on the rig that tested Insight’s radar to get it down safely. Just one tiny piece, but I can say I helped get a probe to Mars.