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Spinoff story
Software Models Atmosphere for Spacecraft
A real-world story of NASA technology finding a life beyond the mission.
About this technology
Overview
When the Curiosity rover made its spectacular landing on Mars, most of the attention was focused on the revolutionary “sky-crane maneuver” that helped slow the spacecraft down. But behind the scenes, atmospheric modeling software developed at Marshall Space Flight Center helped with another make-or-break factor: choosing the landing site. Boeing, whose aerospace business is based in Berkeley, Missouri, is now one of many companies that license this software to ensure spacecraft can fly—and land—safely.