[meteorite-list] Martian Meteorite Heat Ablation?

[Mark Crawford]

Hey Mike,

It's a thin atmosphere, but Mars does /have/ an atmosphere - it's about 
1% the density of Earth's.  At the kind of speeds we're talking about, I 
don't see why ablation would be a problem.  Space probes such as the 
ill-fated Beagle 2 use a heatshield for the initial entry prior to 
deploying parachutes (or not, in Beagle's case).

What would be interesting is to see the descent curve for a Martian 
atmosphere compared to earth - I'd expect to see must shorter dark 
flight, for instance.  Wonder what that would mean for the temperature 
of fresh-fallen Mars meteorites, if anything?

Mark


Mike Groetz wrote:

>Hi Everyone-
>   Assuming Mars does not have an atmosphere and the
>pitting in this rover photo of a meteorite on Mars is
>from heat ablation...
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>http://www.space.com/php/multimedia/imagedisplay/img_display.php?pic=h_opportunity_rock0120_1_02.jpg&cap=Instruments+on+the+Opportunity+Mars+rover+were+used+to+determine+that+the+object+was+a+meteorite.+Image+Credit%3A+NASA%2FJPL
>
>   Would this be possible without an atmosphere?
>Take care, stay cool.
>Thank you
>Mike
>  
>