# Can NASA be trusted to tell us the true color of Mars?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nasa-be-trusted-to-tell-us-the-true-color-of-mars/146438>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [January 3, 2003, 4:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nasa-be-trusted-to-tell-us-the-true-color-of-mars/146438 "2003-01-03T16:32:07Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 5

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**Author:** ![Icerigger](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icerigger/32/432_2.png) [@Icerigger](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icerigger)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2003, 10:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nasa-be-trusted-to-tell-us-the-true-color-of-mars/146438/81 "2003-01-11T22:06:21Z")

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A small robot aircraft is also planned, because of the thin atmosphere it’s wings are extremely long, like a glider to get enough lift.

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**Author:** ![GOM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/5f9b8f/32.png) [@GOM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GOM)\
**Post date:** [January 15, 2003, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/can-nasa-be-trusted-to-tell-us-the-true-color-of-mars/146438/82 "2003-01-15T00:36:58Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> \*Originally posted by Podkayne \*  
> \*\*
> 
> Here’s a brief note on the test of the [MER parachute.](http://www.marstoday.com/viewsr.html?pid=6637) They use a normal (but huge) wind tunnel, and scale down the wind speed to compensate for the thicker atmosphere. \*\*

Thanks. Very interesting…

I would prefer the testing be done in a more Martian-like atmosphere, but that would obviously be extremely expensive. If it could be done at all. I’m not sure that scaling down the wind speed gives the test a completely accurate representation of Mars. But maybe it does…

How fast will MER be going when it enters the Martian atmosphere?

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