ESA confirms the ExoMars lander crashed, possibly exploded on impact

The ExoMars Schiaparelli lander, which was slated to touch down on Mars on Wednesday, crashed on the planet after its thrusters shut off prematurely, the European Space Agency confirmed Friday. And because Schiaparelli still had fuel left in its tank, the craft may have exploded on impact.

The nine thrusters on the small spacecraft were supposed to slow its descent through the Martian atmosphere, which is so thin that objects move through it at perilously high speeds.