QUESTION
What effect will the partial unfolding of the solar panel have on plans to
aerobrake at Mars?

ANSWER from Wayne Lee on June 24, 1997:
The effect is not much at all. We have to turn the solar panel the other way
around so that the solar cells will face into the air flow. The original
plan was to have the cells face away from the air flow (leeward) side so
that they would be protected. However, with the solar panel not in its
proper position, the air flow would cause the panel to fold up on itself.
Turning it around by 180 deg. will solve this. It's like the equivalent of
trying to bend your elbow in the wrong direciton.

With the cells facing into the flow, we have to be more cautious and
aerobrake about 10% less agressively to keep the cells from getting too hot.
Remember, with the cells facing into the flow now instead of away from the
flow, they will get hotter.

- Wayne Lee