In the News: NASA Braces for \'7 minutes of terror\' on Mars

NASA's spacecraft Phoenix, which launched to Mars last August, will finally arrive on the Red Planet.

Seven minutes is all it takes for a spacecraft travelling neary 13 thousand miles per hour to hit the Martian atmosphere, slam on the brakes, and reach the ground.

During that time, onboard computers will be working at a manic pace as the spacecraft deploys its parachute, jettisons its heat shield, extends its three legs, releases the parachute, and finally fires its thrusters to bring it down for a soft landing. Hopefully.
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brace - 准备开始, to get ready
manic - 疯狂的, excessive or unreasonable in rushing
jettison - 投弃, to drop from spacecraft in flight