It was aimed at a flat spot, but when it failed to attach to the surface it bounced and floated for almost 2 hours, hitting the surface again 1 km away[1][2]. Its speed of 38 cm/s during that time was below escape velocity but not by much.
> it failed to attach to the surface it bounced and floated for almost 2 hours, hitting the surface again 1 km away[1][2]. Its speed of 38 cm/s during that time was below escape velocity but not by much.
These numbers sound completely ridiculous, unless you've played Kerbal Space Program, and know the visceral pain of bouncing above Minmus with a pixel of monopropellant left in the tanks.
These numbers sound completely ridiculous, unless you've played Kerbal Space Program, and know the visceral pain of bouncing above Minmus with a pixel of monopropellant left in the tanks.