Phoenix

A NASA Mission to the Polar Regions of Mars

The Phoenix mission owes its name to the heritage from precursor missions that either failed (Mars Polar Lander, 1999) or were cancelled at a late stage (Mars Surveyor Lander 2001). The Phoenix spacecraft was successfully launched on Aug. 4, 2007 and shall land on May 25, 2008 in the Martian arctic region. It shall analyze near-surface water ice that is expected at the landing site. The Primary Mission lasts 90 sols and is followed by the Polar Climate Phase (60 sols). The mission will end late in 2008 due to lack of solar power.

Science Objectives

The Launch

The Journey

The Landing

The Spacecraft

MPS contribution

	RAC
	MECA-OM

Timetable

Related links

Phoenix publications by MPS members

Science objectives

Analyze ice-rich soil: Data from Mars Odyssey (in orbit since 2001) suggest the presence of water ice at shallow depths (< 1 m) at the Phoenix landing site (~ 68.3°N, 127°W; see plus sign in the figures). The Phoenix mission shall test this hypothesis.
Search for organic molecules that might be enclosed in the ice.
Study the physicochemical properties of the soil (grain size, magnetic properties, thermal and electrical conductivity, pH, soluble ions).
Study the exchange of water vapor between soil and atmosphere. Search for clouds.
Measure pressure and temperature over the entire mission time.

Topography of the "Tharsis side" of Mars as inferred from MOLA data (Mars Orbital Laser Altimeter) aboard the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft. The color indicates the altitude (in km) above/below the MOLA surface reference. The Phoenix landing site (~ 68.3°N, 127°W) is marked by a plus sign. Credit: MGS/MOLA. Abundance of near-surface water ice in the northpolar region of Mars (including the Phoenix landing site that is marked by a plus sign). Credit: Mars Odyssey, GRS.

The Launch

The Phoenix spacecraft was successfully launched on Aug.4, 2007, aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral, Florida.

Integration of the Phoenix Spacecraft into the 3rd stage of a Delta II rocket. Credit: NASA. Launch on Aug. 4, 2007, 5:26:31 a.m. (EDT). Credit: NASA.

The Journey

The trajectory from Earth to Mars includes six Trajectory Correction Maneuvers (TCM), cf. figure.

Trajectory of the Phoenix Spacecraft. Credit: JPL.

The Landing

The current landing site is located at 127°W, 68.3°N (figure). Entry Descent Landing (EDL, cf. figure) lasts about 8 min. EDL key events include (altitude given in parentheses):

Parachute deployment (13 km)
Separation from heat shield (12 km)
Separation from parachute (740 m)
Retro rockets fired (570 m)

Entry Descent Landing (EDL). Credit: JPL.

The Spacecraft

The Phoenix science payload is composed of seven units (figures):

Robotic Arm (RA), provided by JPL: The RA (configured with a scoop) allows digging down to 0.5 m into the soil
Robotic Arm Camera (RAC), provided by the Max-Planck-Institut für Sonnensystemforschung (MPS), Katlenburg-Lindau, Germany, in collaboration with the University of Arizona
Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA), provided by JPL with support from University of Neuchatel, Switzerland and MPS, Germany
Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) from University of Arizona and University of Texas, Dallas
Mars Descent Imager (MARDI) from Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS), California
Surface Stereoscopic Imager (SSI) from the University of Arizona with three radiometric calibration targets from the Niels Bohr Institute, Denmark
Meteorological Station (MET) including a Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) instrument and pressure/temperature sensors from the Canadian Space Agency as well as a Telltale (wind gauge) from the University of Aarhus, Denmark

Phoenix lander during integration at JPL. Credit: JPL. An artist's view of the Phoenix spacecraft on the surface of Mars: 1 = SSI, 2 = RAC, 2a = scoop, 3 = MECA, 4 = TEGA, 5 = MET. Note that TEGA is composed of two subsystems: TA (Thermal Analyzer, 4a) and EGA (Evolved Gas Analyzer, 4b). Credit: NASA (modified).

MPS contribution

RAC

MECA-OM

Besides development and integration of RAC und MECA-OM focal plane the MPS participates in the Phoenix project with following tasks:

Active participation in the data acquisition
Support pre-flight calibration
Provide image processing software for RAC and MECA-OM
Operate a MECA-OM focal plane at the MPS for trouble shooting during the mission

Timetable

Event Earth Time Mars Time Status

Launch Aug. 4, 2007

Landing,
Start Primary Mission May 25, 2008,
68.3°N, 127°W on Mars sol 0, late NH spring (L_s=77°)

End Primary Mission,
Start Polar Climate Phase Aug. 26, 2008 sol 90, early NH summer (L_s=118°)

End Polar Climate Phase Oct. 26, 2008 sol 150, mid NH summer (L_s=148°)

End of Mission? Dec. 25, 2008 sol 208 , end of NH summer (L_s=180°)

Phoenix Mission Timetable: NH = Northern Hemisphere. The parameter L_s (Aerocentric Longitude of the Sun) specifies the position of Mars in its orbit around the sun. L_s = 0° and 90° are the beginning of NH spring and summer, respectively.