The software is turned on 10 minutes after touchdown. A parachute will help the spacecraft make a safe landing on Mars. If flight controllers don't hear a signal during the second window of communication from the spacecraft, they would investigate whether the Lander's dish antenna is not pointed close enough to Earth to establish contact. To get a good communication session, the antenna must be pointed within 5 degrees of Earth. If the antenna is pointed more than about 15 degrees away from Earth, we wouldn't hear a signal at all.
Scientists expect to see water ice in the soil.
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