Burning up, blowing up or crash-landing is usually considered a bad thing for a space mission. But some of the most successful missions have ended when scientists deliberately steered them to their demise. For some spacecraft, such destruction was always part of the plan. Others had simply achieved their goals, budget outlays had run their course, the time had come to wind them down, and researchers realized that they had nothing left to lose by sending the probes on one last daredevil plunge.

View a slide show of five experiments pushed to the limits—and beyond.

7 Comments

1. 1. toffer99 08:49 AM 6/26/12

   This technique was probably first employed by the research group known as the Mythbusters. If a myth involving large, fast, high or heavy objects was busted or shown to be improbable, an explosive or violent collision is arranged. Just because.

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2. 2. Zernk 02:52 PM 6/26/12

   Wow. Your web designer needs a spanking. Or is this part of a grand atheist plot to use difficult-to-read text to engage our critical thinking so we lose what little belief in God we might still have left?

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3. 3. Buffy52 in reply to Zernk 05:28 PM 6/27/12

   I like the grand atheist plot concept and this a peculiar font for comments....

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4. 4. elderlybloke 12:57 AM 6/29/12

   To the previous posters- I didn't have any problem reading that "transparent" print with my 81 year old eyes.
   See your Optician (or whatever they are called in USA)without delay.

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5. 5. Buffy52 in reply to elderlybloke 01:19 AM 6/29/12

   I didn't have aproblem either but good advice or try some bilbury...

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6. 6. Steve D 10:46 AM 6/29/12

   The Galileo atmospheric probe sacrificed 99% of its scientific value by not having a camera. But oh, yes, we had a magnetometer and particle counter - can't ditch those to save weight!

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7. 7. justjordy33 02:58 PM 6/29/12

   This webpage is really great. Good work! <a href="http://www.hirningauto.com/VehicleSearchResults?search=new&location=&bodyType=&make=Buick&model=Enclave&trim=&minYear=&maxYear=&maxPrice=">buick</a> the designs are great.

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