Phoenix surface mission

3488 · Jun 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>One project being worked on is a sample for the microspcopic imager. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Cheers Wayne,That will be very interesting. How a varying, but mostly supercold environment react with dust / sand particles, binding properties, etc. Now that sounds more like it.Looking forward to what the microscope sees.There appears to be no teleconference today, or am I mistaken (most likely)?Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 10, 2008

Next conference listed is shown as an audio teleconference tomorrow June 11 at 2PM EDT, while NASA TV shows it as a TV event at 3PM EDT. Hopefully, the two data bits will converge by tomorrow

<div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jun 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Next conference listed is shown as an audio teleconference tomorrow June 11 at 2PM EDT, while NASA TV shows it as a TV event at 3PM EDT. Hopefully, the two data bits will converge by tomorrow

Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Cheers Wayne, between us, I think we do a cracking job at keeping up with the latest developments.... <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />When I get home later, I will be checking again. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

Mee_n_Mac · Jun 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>One project being worked on is a sample for the microspcopic imager. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV> Is there any chance that the soil "clumpiness" will affect this experiment ?  I might guess no as my understanding is that the sample will be scraped off (of large clumps) as it's brought into the microscope but what do I know ...  For that matter I'd have guessed that dissolving some soil with the white salt/ice/??? in the WCL would be high on the ToDo list.  Would the difficulties discovered in getting samples into TEGA somehow preclude that ?Perhaps a better (overall) question is what was the plan prior to landing.  I have to believe that there was a published plan of experiments, flexible as required by incoming results, that was released to the public.  Or perhaps the last bit isn't true.  Lastly let me key on something Andrew Brown said earlier and have a moment of wild reckless abandon. Lets suppose that the team is convinced that why lies now exposed under the lander is of high scientific value.  With all the experiments done on the reachable soil and perhaps only a few days expected before shutdown, might the RA be used to drag the lander a few feet to expose what now lies underneath it ?  So that this blast scoured and heated subsurface could be better examined and/or sampled ?  Just a wild and crazy thought .....  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> -----------------------------------------------------Ask not what your Forum Software can do do on you,Ask it to, please for the love of all that's Holy, STOP ! </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 10, 2008

<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/0/b06a4fda-6199-4799-9074-0ebccceb8f5c.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Good news on the test of gently shaking soil off the scoop. It appears the microscope and next TEGA load will be much easier to work with. http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/press/13339.html To my eye, it looks quite successful."This sequence of four images from the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager covers a period of 20 minutes from beginning to end of the activity. In the single delivery of a soil sample to a Phoenix instrument prior to this test, the arm brought the scooped up soil over the instrument's opened door and turned over the scoop to release the soil. The sprinkle technique, by contrast, holds the scoop at a steady angle and vibrates the scoop by running the motorized rasp located beneath the scoop. This gently jostles some material out of the scoop to the target below. Based on the test's success in delivering a small quantity and fine-size particles, the Phoenix team plans to use the sprinkle method for delivering samples to MECA and to the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer, or TEGA. The next planned delivery is to MECA's Optical Microscope, via the port in the MECA cover visible at the bottom of these images." <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jun 10, 2008

Thank you very much Wayne,I think they've cracked the soil delivery problem. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />It is great news, now the mission can proceed, get some samples under that microscope & some into the oven.I will be back soon with some imagery of this test that Wayne has linked to, plus some excellent & very interesting brand new horizon images, including a large boulder (that would have destroyed Phoenix had she landed on it) that was not so obvious in the initial panorama.This sol is a blessing & I think the mixed fortunes of the last few sols have passed. I am much happier now than this time yesterday. This mission is just so important to me personally & Wayne is continuing to provide first class updates, in my absense. I will  reciprocate in a short while.Andrew Brown.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 10, 2008

I'm back now with a few images from Sol 15. I think this is the turn around sol.First image showing the Scoop full of soil above the MECA. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/12/0bd56d01-1609-4436-8c59-bb87c9bac146.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Second image showing Scoop having shaken a little soil down to MECA. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/5/c008bdfb-314c-4a03-b522-49a1134bab6f.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Third image showing more soil shaken down out of scoop onto MECA. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/8/fbf25214-e1c9-48f4-a82f-41038148766b.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Fourth image showing final heap on MECA after the scoop was taken away. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/10/d634300a-4c52-4c08-8ad7-edc9655c6c26.Medium.jpg" alt="" />This image the same as the third one, but with the scoop brightened up. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/9/e918c25f-c05e-4ab3-996d-9c8a1147ecbf.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Notice that while the scoop is in exactly the same place, the shadow on the MECA advances, as expected during the course of those 20 minutes leading away from noon, under the midsol Sun.Will be back soon with some more images of the Martian landscape, sol 15, including  a large boulder that would have destroyed Phoenix had she landed on it.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 10, 2008

I'm back with some Martian surface images from Sol 15.As the higher resolution images progress southwards, some of the Scandia Colles hills on the horizon really start to show their presence in these higher resolution images.143 degrees Azimuth or SSE. Sol 15. The Scandia Colles hills are visible through the haze. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/10/fc23c41b-53ed-48c0-aaca-1fb377bb0167.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Proceeding further south @ Azimuth 151.5 degrees. A large boulder is visible about a seventh of the way down from the horizon, which would have ended the mission had Phoenix come down on it. Another large boulder can also be seen more or less in front of the Scandia Colles hills on the SSE horizon. Also the crashed heatshield can be seen.Azimuth 151.5 degrees & large boulder. Sol 15. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/13/4186f4b3-dbcd-44db-ad73-47e107ee5079.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Enlargement of boulders. Perhaps ejecta from the Heimdall Crater to the North East??? That is not haze heat, seeing as its approx -30 C or lower (image taken @ approx 5:15 PM local time, well into the afternoon), but image artifacts. I'm crap compared to Anthmartian, rlb2, spin0 or Swampcat at image processing. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/13/c0d4077a-d043-440f-bdac-fcbb6c69e882.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Proceeding further south. Azimuth @ 163 degrees. Heatshield can be seen on the upper left. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/3/59cf1b49-fa5d-467e-a398-619c4d3b0a96.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Slightly further south than the last one @ Azimuth 165 degrees. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/8/2a4eab86-c907-480d-b89e-fc8a9724f0e3.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Perhaps on Sol 16, we get to see what is due south at a higher resolution.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

tanstaafl76 · Jun 10, 2008

Wow great pics!!  I'm noticing a lot of exposed rocks and such that are not coated with dust, I assume that means it's a lot less dusty up here than it is down by the equator?   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 10, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Wow great pics!!  I'm noticing a lot of exposed rocks and such that are not coated with dust, I assume that means it's a lot less dusty up here than it is down by the equator?   Posted by tanstaafl76</DIV>Hi tanstaafl76,I wonder. I have not really had much time to really look. I have been for the most part just finding the interesting ones & posting them. In many ways it would make sense, as the area is covered in CO2 ice for a large part of the Martian year & perhas global atmospheric cirulation keeps the dust confined closer to the equator. I also noticed since you posted your observation earlier, that the Viking 2 site in Utopia Planitia, also appeared to have cleaner rocks than at Viking 1, Mars Pathfinder & both MERs. Perhaps there is something in this.I need to investigate.I just found this whilst trolling around on the U of A site.View looking due North.   <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/6/30e0eb1e-a4d3-4b46-96d0-dd349cc8d772.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Straight up the middle for another 22 degrees north, or 1,303 KM / 809 miles takes you to the Martian North Pole.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

jumpjack2 · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I'm back with some Martian surface images from Sol 15.As the higher resolution images progress southwards, some of the Scandia Colles hills on the horizon really start to show their presence in these higher resolution images.[...]</DIV>Well, if I didn't know I'm looking at mars, I'd really think something "wet" definitely happened here! A lot of water flowed here around! Ok, liquid water can't exist on Mars surface... but maybe we are NOT looking at Mars "surface": if actually this land is ice covered during martian winter, this means we are looking ... underneath a glacier!And what does it happen under a glacier? Ice melts and forms little "rivers".Could it be possible on mars? Suppose you have a glacier several foots thick, completely separating terrain from martian atmosphere; air between ice and terrain will be "filled up" with water vapour due to sublimation, and maybe the chemical/themodinamical balance would be eventually altered enough to allow liquid water to flow aorund. Maybe also temperature rises enough.The question is: is any orbital picture available of this area, showing it covered with ice?

JonClarke · Jun 11, 2008

The Wikipedia entry on Phoenix has a really great image of patterned ground on Devon Island that is very similar that seen by Phoenix.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image

atterned_ground_devon_island.jpg   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

efron_24 · Jun 11, 2008

well.. glaciers could have been there centuries agoand once water did flow on Mars... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 11, 2008

Just a heads up, the Phoenix TV News  Briefing that had been on the NASA TV schedule is gone (replaced by GLAST launch replays) so it appears there will only be a telecongerence today at 2PM EDT, 1600 UTC <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Just a heads up, the Phoenix TV News  Briefing that had been on the NASA TV schedule is gone (replaced by GLAST launch replays) so it appears there will only be a telecongerence today at 2PM EDT, 1600 UTC Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Cheers Wayne,Just a very quick chime in with three brand new Sol 16 images, among the most recent download today.Sol 16 Azimuth 252.79 degrees. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/11/7c0af2c1-82aa-4364-9bab-f0bda5af941f.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Sol 16 Azimuth 264 degrees. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/10/6f53b741-d7e2-43d0-8a1a-8fbdf15412d4.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Sol 16 Azimuth 289.4 degrees. Shame the arm is in the way. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/5/4db10b1e-5702-409d-a51f-9411f652a0c0.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Sol 14 weather. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/13/c58259ec-4a95-45a0-ad26-12906f1c3a0b.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Getting colder. Sol 14 Max -35 C / -31 F.Sol 14 Min -80 C / -112 F.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

bearack · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The Wikipedia entry on Phoenix has a really great image of patterned ground on Devon Island that is very similar that seen by Phoenix.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image

atterned_ground_devon_island.jpg   Posted by jonclarke</DIV> Excellent comparison, Jon.  Now if we could gets some color from Mars

MeteorWayne · Jun 11, 2008

A new user named marsjunkie posted this in another forum. I'm copying it here (thanx marsjunkie!!!) so the US folks don't miss the information. Hope he drops into this thread! On Wedesday, June 11, at 10:00 p.m. EDT, Discovery Channel premieres Mars: The Quest for Life, an all-new, one-hour behind-the-scenes look at the Phoenix lander. The documentary follows the man in charge, Peter Smith, as he and his team struggle to defy the odds and get Phoenix safely onto the surface of Mars. Featuring never-before-seen footage of Phoenix's dramatic, emotional landing, the program explores the secrets that Phoenix might finally unlock about life on another world. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 11, 2008

Link to today's teleconferencehttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/media.php <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

3488 · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Excellent comparison, Jon.  Now if we could gets some color from Mars

Posted by bearack</DIV>Cheers Bearack & Jon Clarke.Yes the similarity is very striking, in fact to the untrained eye, they look more or less alike. The only real difference overall, is that due to Mars's incredibly low Winter temperatures, CO2 ice will cover the scene & the polygons to form into a more square pattern, as temperatures drop below -112 C / -170 F. Other than that, the two scenes are remarkably similar. Don't worry bearack, the colour images are coming. Already on the raw images the different coloured filtered images are there. Devon Island is one place I would really like to visit & explore. Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Link to today's teleconferencehttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/media.php Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Cheers Wayne. I will be tuned in, but of course you already knew that I would be. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

a_lost_packet_ · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Link to today's teleconferencehttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/media.php Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>I hope I can make it home to see that, otherwise I'll have to go to another station to watch it.

<div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> I put on my robe and wizard hat... </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Link to today's teleconferencehttp://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/phoenix/media.php Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV> Sorry, here's a more specific link... http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Sorry, here's a more specific link... http://www.nasa.gov/news/media/newsaudio/index.html Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV> Judging by the images, might be a dull news conf.BTW, the more I look at the white layers in Dodo and Baby Bear, the more they look like a salt layer to me.Can't quite put my finger on why, it's just my impression.MWShould start momentarily. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Judging by the images, might be a dull news conf.BTW, the more I look at the white layers in Dodo and Baby Bear, the more they look like a salt layer to me.Can't quite put my finger on why, it's just my impression.MWShould start momentarily. Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>I wuz wrong!!! TEGA OVEN IS FULL!!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

thor06 · Jun 11, 2008

this is great!  I wonder if the overnight temp change helped the soil go through?  It sounded like they had givin up on this sample ever going in the oven. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> www.watchnasatv.com ONE PERCENT FOR NASA! </div>

3488 · Jun 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I wuz wrong!!!TEGA OVEN IS FULL!!! Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Cheers Wayne,I cannot get the teleconference to work, there's nothing wrong with your link, it's my software.I can listen to the repeats, but obviously not live.The TEGA oven is full. Oven no 4 I see. Soon, in a few sols, we'll see if its ice or salt.Andrew Brown.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

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