The Mission Of Phoenix

Phoenix was sent to Mars to discover whether water existed on Mars and whether Mars could support life. The mission started when the Mars probe, Pathfinder, discovered ice in Mars' polar regions. Phoenix was also sent to record the daily weather and temperature on Mars. Phoenix stopped functioning on November 2nd, because there was no longer enough sunlight to power its solar panels. To analyze the weather, it used an instrument called Lidar, a laser, and a meteorological station. In the goal of determining if there is (or ever was) water on Mars it was aided by a Robotic Digging Arm, and by a Soil Chemical Analyzer.

First, a Delta II 7925 rocket was launched, with three stages: eject the fuel canisters; eject the frame; and eject the “nose” of the rocket. Then, eject the rocket. After that, the stabilizers. Then, the rocket thruster gets ejected. Then, the heat shield gets ejected. Then, the outer casing gets ejected, along with the parachute. Then, the rocket boosters activate to lower the lander safely onto the surface of Mars. Finally, Phoenix lands! Then, the solar arrays extend, the meteorological station powers up, the camera activates, Lidar turns on, and the digging arm begins work.

TechnologyTechnology Of Phoenix Of Phoenix

The main tool of the Phoenix is the Robotic Arm (RA), built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Alliance Spacesystems and Honeybee for the purposes of digging trenches, scooping up soil and water ice samples, and delivering the samples to the TEGA (Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer) and MECA (Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer) instruments for detailed chemical and geological analysis. MECA, built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, is a combination of several scientific instruments including a wet chemistry laboratory, optical ad atomic force microscopes, and a thermal and electrical conductivity probe. The Robotic Arm Camera (RAC), built by the University of Arizona and Max Planck Institute, Germany, was built to photograph the martian soil while the Robotic Arm takes samples. It was attached just above the scoop. The SSI (Stereo Surface Imager), also built by the University of Arizona, was created to serve as the “eyes” of the Phoenix, providing high-resolution, stereoscopic, panoramic images of the martian arctic. TEGA, built by the University of Arizona and University of Texas, Dallas, is a combination high-temperature furnace and mass spectrometer instrument designed to analyze martian ice and soil samples. The Mars Descent Imager (MARDI), built by Malin Space Science Systems, was built to photograph the martian surface during Phoenix’s descent and plays a key scientific role during Phoenix’s descent. MET (Meteorological Station), built by the Canadian Space Agency, was intended to monitor and record the daily weather and temperature on Mars.

SSI=Surface Stereo ImagerRAC=Robotic Arm CameraMARDI=Mars Descent ImagerTEGA=Thermal and Evolved Gas AnalyzerMECA=Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity AnalyzerWC=Wet Chemistry ExperimentM=Microscopy, including the Optical Microscope and the Atomic Force MicroscopeTECP=Thermal and Electrical Conductivity ProbeMET=Meteorological Station

Phoenix’s Goals 1Phoenix’s Goals 1 Goal 1: Goal 1: Determine whether life ever arose on MarsDetermine whether life ever arose on Mars Continuing the Viking missions’ quest, but in an environment known to be Continuing the Viking missions’ quest, but in an environment known to be

water-rich, Phoenix searches for signatures of life at the soil-ice interface water-rich, Phoenix searches for signatures of life at the soil-ice interface just below the Martian surface. Phoenix will land in the arctic plains, where just below the Martian surface. Phoenix will land in the arctic plains, where its robotic arm will dig through the dry soil to reach the ice layer, bring the its robotic arm will dig through the dry soil to reach the ice layer, bring the soil and ice samples to the lander platform, and analyze these samples soil and ice samples to the lander platform, and analyze these samples using advanced scientific instruments. These samples may hold the key to using advanced scientific instruments. These samples may hold the key to understanding whether the Martian arctic is a habitable zone where understanding whether the Martian arctic is a habitable zone where microbes could grow and reproduce during moist conditions. microbes could grow and reproduce during moist conditions.

Goal 2: Goal 2: Characterize the climate of MarsCharacterize the climate of Mars Phoenix will land during the retreat of the Martian polar cap, when cold soil Phoenix will land during the retreat of the Martian polar cap, when cold soil

is first exposed to sunlight after a long winter. The interaction between the is first exposed to sunlight after a long winter. The interaction between the ground surface and the Martian atmosphere that occurs at this time is ground surface and the Martian atmosphere that occurs at this time is critical to understanding the present and the past climate of Mars. To gather critical to understanding the present and the past climate of Mars. To gather data about this interaction and other surface meteorological conditions, data about this interaction and other surface meteorological conditions, Phoenix will provide the first weather station in the Martian polar region, with Phoenix will provide the first weather station in the Martian polar region, with no others currently planned. Data from this station will have a significant no others currently planned. Data from this station will have a significant impact in improving global climate models of Mars. impact in improving global climate models of Mars.

Phoenix’s Goals 2Phoenix’s Goals 2

Goal 3:Goal 3: Characterize the geology of MarsCharacterize the geology of Mars As on Earth, the past history of water is written below the surface because liquid As on Earth, the past history of water is written below the surface because liquid

water changes soil chemistry and mineralogy in definite ways. Phoenix will use a water changes soil chemistry and mineralogy in definite ways. Phoenix will use a suite of chemistry experiments to thoroughly analyze the soil’s chemistry and suite of chemistry experiments to thoroughly analyze the soil’s chemistry and mineralogy. Some scientists speculate the landing site for Phoenix may have been a mineralogy. Some scientists speculate the landing site for Phoenix may have been a deep ocean in the planet’s distant past leaving evidence of sedimentation. If fine deep ocean in the planet’s distant past leaving evidence of sedimentation. If fine sediments of mud and silt are found at the site, it may support the hypothesis of an sediments of mud and silt are found at the site, it may support the hypothesis of an ancient ocean. Alternatively, coarse sediments of sand might indicate past flowing ancient ocean. Alternatively, coarse sediments of sand might indicate past flowing water, especially if these grains are rounded and well sorted. Using the first true water, especially if these grains are rounded and well sorted. Using the first true microscope on Mars, Phoenix will examine the structure of these grains to better microscope on Mars, Phoenix will examine the structure of these grains to better answer these questions about water’s influence on the geology of Mars. answer these questions about water’s influence on the geology of Mars.

Goal 4: Goal 4: Prepare for human explorationPrepare for human exploration The Phoenix Mission will provide evidence of water ice and assess the soil chemistry The Phoenix Mission will provide evidence of water ice and assess the soil chemistry

in Martian arctic. Water will be a critical resource to future human explorers and in Martian arctic. Water will be a critical resource to future human explorers and Phoenix may provide appreciable information on how water may be acquired on the Phoenix may provide appreciable information on how water may be acquired on the planet. Understanding the soil chemistry will provide understanding of the potential planet. Understanding the soil chemistry will provide understanding of the potential resources available for human explorers to the northern plains. resources available for human explorers to the northern plains.

Phoenix’s Interplanetary Cruise Phoenix’s Interplanetary Cruise And Approach To MarsAnd Approach To Mars