Quoting Dale Hooper <Dale.Hooper@sdl.usu.edu>:

It seems the deceleration sensors on the Genesis space probe were designed "upside down", resulting in the crash of the capsule!

It's funny the chute didn't deploy on takeoff! Hey, that's not a bad idea. Here's a thought. Why not design a parachute that is flame retardant and tape it to the outside of the probe with a special heat sensitive type duct tape, and then when the probe re-enters Earths atmosphere, the tape would burn clear and allow the chute to open. I'm sure the costs involved in writing a program that would counter the drag created by the chute would cost NASA a lot less money than having helicopters and stunt pilots chase a "meteorite" across the desert. Maybe NASA could bring these things back in at night so if the chute does fail, they can have a "shooting star" to wish upon... Just kidding! ;)