Phoenix
http://www.mps.mpg.de/en/projekte/phoenix/index.html

Phoenix

A NASA Mission to the Polar Regions of Mars

Logo of the Phoenix mission. Credit: LPL 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


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):



Entry Descent Landing (EDL). Credit: JPL.

The Spacecraft

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

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:


Timetable

Event Earth Time Mars Time Status
Launch Aug. 4, 2007   ok
Landing,
Start Primary Mission
May 25, 2008,
68.3°N, 127°W on Mars
sol 0, late NH spring (Ls=77°) ok
End Primary Mission,
Start Polar Climate Phase
Aug. 26, 2008 sol 90, early NH summer (Ls=118°) ok
End Polar Climate Phase Oct. 26, 2008 sol 150, mid NH summer (Ls=148°)
End of Mission? Dec. 25, 2008 sol 208 , end of NH summer (Ls=180°)

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

Related links

> Phoenix @ JPL
> Phoenix @ Lockheed Martin Space Systems
> Phoenix @ University of Arizona (UA)
> Phoenix @ NASA



© 2009, Max-Planck-Institut für
Sonnensystemforschung, Lindau
Walter Goetz
07-10-2008