Phoenix surface mission

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi all , I guess I can be classified a lurker ,since I regularly read these posts without contributing.Sorry to say that's going to continue today,The phoenix lander has been on mars well over a month now.Will noone adress the issue:are there or are there not organics in the samples ?I understand there are technical difficulties but COME ON!!!stop dragging your feet lets hear some results <br />Posted by bounce2</DIV><br /><br />It depends on how you define organics. If you mean carbon bearing compounds other than CO2, the answer is no.</p><p>Remember, so far there has only been one sample delivered to TEGA, and one to the Wet Chemistry experiment.</p><p>When results that indicate something like that are found, you can be sure they would be announced. It's not foot dragging, it's only that few samples have been processed. BTW, it's been on the surface close to 2 months now.</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<h1>NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Prepares For Next Sample Analysis</h1><p><strong>July 23, 2008</strong> The latest activities of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander have moved the mission closer to analyzing a sample of material, possibly icy soil, from a hard layer at the bottom of a shallow trench beside the lander. <br /><br />Overnight Tuesday to Wednesday, during Phoenix's 57th Martian day, or sol, since landing, Phoenix used its robotic arm to scrape the top of the hard layer in the trench informally named "Snow White." <br /><br />The Phoenix team prepared commands to send to the spacecraft Wednesday telling it to take color stereo images minutes after each of five more rounds of scraping during Sol 58. <br /><br />"We are monitoring changes between the scrapes," said Doug Ming of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston, the team's science lead for Sol 58 plans. "It appears that there is fairly rapid sublimation of some of the ice after scraping exposes fresh material, leaving a thin layer of soil particles that had been mixed with the ice. There's a color change from darker to bluer to redder. We want to characterize that on Sol 58 to know what to expect when we scrape just before collecting the next sample." </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p>Within a few sols, the team plans to collect a sample from the hard layer of Snow White for delivery to one of the eight ovens of Phoenix's Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA). Doors to the oven have been opened to receive the sample. <br /><br />The TEGA completed one checkout during Sol 57. Another preparation step by the instrument, a heater characterization, is planned for Sol 58, to verify that pressure sensors can be warmed enough to operate properly early in the Mars morning. <br /><br />"For the next sample, we will be operating the instrument earlier in the morning than we have before," said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, lead scientist for TEGA. "It will be almost the coldest part of the day, because we want to collect the sample cold and deliver it cold." <br /><br />On the day when Phoenix will deliver the next sample to TEGA, the team plans to have lander activities begin about three hours earlier than the usual start time of about 9 a.m. local solar time. <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Thanks Wayne, you got me a little worried there as I thought you may had beaten me to this.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2" color="#000080"><strong>Midnight Sun montage from Phoenix. </strong></font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/12/7d9bc744-4822-4535-9cb4-23eb8f035485.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>10:00 PM / 22:00 Hrs left, 2:00 AM / 02:00 Hrs right. The Sun images were spread out over 11 sols, hence the curve not being smooth, sols 46 to 56. Sol 30 was the Summer Solstice for the northern hemisphere on Mars, so now the Sun is slowly lowering (</strong></font><font size="2"><strong>Autumn Equinox on </strong></font><font size="2"><strong>Boxing Day, Sol 209&nbsp; if Phoenix is still operating then).</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[bounce2]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>It depends on how you define organics. If you mean carbon bearing compounds other than CO2, the answer is no.Remember, so far there has only been one sample delivered to TEGA, and one to the Wet Chemistry experiment.When results that indicate something like that are found, you can be sure they would be announced. It's not foot dragging, it's only that few samples have been processed. BTW, it's been on the surface close to 2 months now. <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV><br />Hi MwW I do not mean to sound like an idiot.When I say organics I mean exactly that ,carbon chemistry(more complex than CO2)The viking landers indicated there were no or ganics to be found in the near surface samples at their location(s)To me it seems like the clock is ticking,when I say "footdragging "I'm not suggesting anything nefarious,only expressing my frustration as a a layman.Is it unreasonable to expect some&nbsp; public results after two months of the surface mission?Do you know if we can expect some results in the near future?Thanks

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi MwW I do not mean to sound like an idiot.When I say organics I mean exactly that ,carbon chemistry(more complex than CO2)The viking landers indicated there were no or ganics to be found in the near surface samples at their location(s)To me it seems like the clock is ticking,when I say "footdragging "I'm not suggesting anything nefarious,only expressing my frustration as a a layman.Is it unreasonable to expect some&nbsp; public results after two months of the surface mission?Do you know if we can expect some results in the near future?Thanks <br />Posted by bounce2</DIV><br /><br />I never suggested you were an idiot! It's a good question. And the answer is what I said. No organics have been found so far. But there have been only a few samples tested. After all, there are only 8 TEGA ovens (which may have a problem making the next one the last) and only 4 Wet Chemistry Experiments, one of which has been used. But you must realize that in order to not screw up, the owners have to be very careful. It's possible this will be the final TEGA oven that will work. I don't think so, but they have planned as if it will be. The ice only lasts a few hours before it sublimates away, so it is crucial that everything be planned out and go perfectly. If it takes 6 or 8 hours to do it, valuable data may be lost. They want to get it done in less than an hour. Better to practice the maneuver, and find out what the real time constraints are.</p><p>You must be young No patience!!</p><p>It is more important to do it right than fast!!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>Wayne</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[bearack]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi MwW I do not mean to sound like an idiot.When I say organics I mean exactly that ,carbon chemistry(more complex than CO2)The viking landers indicated there were no or ganics to be found in the near surface samples at their location(s)To me it seems like the clock is ticking,when I say "footdragging "I'm not suggesting anything nefarious,only expressing my frustration as a a layman.Is it unreasonable to expect some&nbsp; public results after two months of the surface mission?Do you know if we can expect some results in the near future?Thanks <br />Posted by bounce2</DIV><br /><br />Patients is a virtue when it comes to this kind of stuff.&nbsp; There are several scheduled experiments and with the lander having some issues on arrival, many experiments were delayed.&nbsp; The spot where the Viking lander landed was very acidic, so the likely hood of finding organic material would be little to null.&nbsp; They have discovered that were the Phoenix lander has landed that the soil is much different from the Vicking lander, so, that leads to allot of promise to a discovery.&nbsp; It's just going to take some time.</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Patients is a virtue when it comes to this kind of stuff.&nbsp; There are several scheduled experiments and with the lander having some issues on arrival, many experiments were delayed.&nbsp; The spot where the Viking lander landed was very acidic, so the likely hood of finding organic material would be little to null.&nbsp; They have discovered that were the Phoenix lander has landed that the soil is much different from the Vicking lander, so, that leads to allot of promise to a discovery.&nbsp; It's just going to take some time.&nbsp; <br />Posted by bearack</font></DIV></p><p><strong><font size="2">I agree completely Tim.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2"><br /></font></strong><strong><font size="2">Phoenix really, despite the relatively few problems, is performing extremely well. I am getting a bit fed up, as I think Wayne & yourself are regarding people slagging off & moaning about this mission. Phoenix is achieving minimum success & I suspect that once the primary mission is over, Phoenix like the Vikings, Mars Pathfinder & the MERs, will have accomplished full mission success & very much&nbsp;more.</font></strong></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.</font></strong>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>..No patience!!It is more important to do it right than fast!!&nbsp;Wayne Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>I agree completely.</p><p>Think of the thousands of people connected with this mission.&nbsp; The hundreds of thousands of man-hours put into it.&nbsp; The years of research and development.&nbsp; The time and effort and resources of all concerned..</p><p>All of that rests in a scoop on the surface of a planet 336,595,500 kilometers (or so) away from us right now. </p><p>Yeah, we need to get it right the first time.&nbsp; </p><p>(Hope I got that range right... )</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I agree completely.Think of the thousands of people connected with this mission.&nbsp; The hundreds of thousands of man-hours put into it.&nbsp; The years of research and development.&nbsp; The time and effort and resources of all concerned..All of that rests in a scoop on the surface of a planet 336,595,500 kilometers (or so) away from us right now. Yeah, we need to get it right the first time.&nbsp; (Hope I got that range right... ) <br />Posted by a_lost_packet_</DIV><br /><br />Close enough, right now it's 336 732 584.78 kilometer <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" />. Of course, that's from the center of the earth.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Close enough, right now it's 336 732 584.78 kilometer . Of course, that's from the center of the earth.... <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>ROFL&nbsp; Well, off by a smidgen... and decidely hot and under a lot of pressure to boot.&nbsp; Don't put me in charge of reading the map on any trip. </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>ROFL&nbsp; Well, off by a smidgen... and decidely hot and under a lot of pressure to boot.&nbsp; Don't put me in charge of reading the map on any trip. <br />Posted by a_lost_packet_</DIV><br /><br />Now up to 336 743 550.3 kilometer<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-wink.gif" border="0" alt="Wink" title="Wink" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[observer7]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Now up to 336 743 550.3 kilometer <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>11,000 + kilometers in just over 20 minutes.&nbsp; Makes you realize that we are MOVIN!</p><p>&nbsp;</p><p>--&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <em><font size="2">"Time exists so that everything doesn't happen at once" </font></em><font size="2">Albert Einstein</font> </div>

 

[a_lost_packet_]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>&nbsp;11,000 + kilometers in just over 20 minutes.&nbsp; Makes you realize that we are MOVIN!&nbsp;--&nbsp; <br /> Posted by observer7</DIV></p><p>Yeah, add that factor in and it makes all of our efforts in space look just that more amazing.&nbsp; We're haulin' ___ through space and exploring Mars remotely at the same time.</p><p>That's like driving down the freeway at 80 mph while hanging out of the window and trying to draw a mural on the side of a passing truck using spray-paint and a toothbrush.</p><p> </p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font size="1">I put on my robe and wizard hat...</font> </div>

 

[3488]

<p>

<font color="#ff0000">Yeah, add that factor in and it makes all of our efforts in space look just that more amazing.&nbsp; We're haulin' ___ through space and exploring Mars remotely at the same time.That's like driving down the freeway at 80 mph while hanging out of the window and trying to draw a mural on the side of a passing truck using spray-paint and a toothbrush. <br />Posted by a_lost_packet_</font><font color="#000000">[/</font>QUOTE]</p><p><font size="2"><strong>I agree totally ALP. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>This mission is an enormous success on&nbsp;many fronts, yet some people still moan & ***** about this mission. I despair sometimes at people who moan, but have no idea really about what they&nbsp;are moaning about, but here I'm amonst freinds, that makes things seem worthwhile, including my participation in the campaign to get Phoenix out of the cancelled bin & on Mars, where she belongs.</strong></font> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-laughing.gif" border="0" alt="Laughing" title="Laughing" /></p><p><strong><font size="2">Andrew Brown.</font></strong></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[DrRocket]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I agree totally ALP. This mission is an enormous success on&nbsp;many fronts, yet some people still moan & ***** about this mission. I despair sometimes at people who moan, but have no idea really about what they&nbsp;are moaning about, but here I'm amonst freinds, that makes things seem worthwhile, including my participation in the campaign to get Phoenix out of the cancelled bin & on Mars, where she belongs. Andrew Brown. <br />Posted by 3488</DIV></p><p>I wouldn't worry overmuch about the people who moan and *****.&nbsp; It is just their nature.&nbsp; I am quite confident that if you announced that Phoenix had just discoverd diamonds and that it was returning to give one to each and every moaner and bitcher, they would start complaining that they ought to receive at least two.<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[bearack]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I wouldn't worry overmuch about the people who moan and *****.&nbsp; It is just their nature.&nbsp; I am quite confident that if you announced that Phoenix had just discoverd diamonds and that it was returning to give one to each and every moaner and bitcher, they would start complaining that they ought to receive at least two. <br />Posted by DrRocket</DIV><br /><br />The ***** would be "what do yah mean it's going to take over 6 months for my diamond to return from Mars!&nbsp; I want it now!"</p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><br /><img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>The ***** would be "what do yah mean it's going to take over 6 months for my diamond to return from Mars!&nbsp; I want it now!"&nbsp; <br />Posted by bearack</DIV><br /><br />Heck, even if you threw it at the speed of light, it would take 18 minutes and 44 seconds!! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[DrRocket]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Heck, even if you threw it at the speed of light, it would take 18 minutes and 44 seconds!! <br />Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV></p><p>Yeah and with the reentry heat at that speed all you would have&nbsp;would be&nbsp;CO2, and then the global warming faction would be all over you.<br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Yeah and with the reentry heat at that speed all you would have&nbsp;would be&nbsp;CO2, and then the global warming faction would be all over you. <br />Posted by DrRocket</DIV></p><p>Getting close, preparations almost complete.</p><p>Time to shove some ice in those instruments!</p><p><strong>July 24, 2008</strong> -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has groomed the bottom of a shallow trench to prepare for collecting a sample to be analyzed from a hard subsurface layer where the soil may contain frozen water. <br /><br />Images received Thursday morning confirmed that the lander's robotic arm had scraped the top of the hard layer clean during activities of Phoenix's 58th Martian day, or sol, corresponding to overnight Wednesday to Thursday. <br /><br />The Phoenix team developed commands for sending to the spacecraft Thursday to complete two remaining preparations necessary before collecting a sample and delivering it to the lander's Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA). One part of the plan for Sol 59 (overnight Thursday to Friday) would assure that the scoop is empty of any soil collected earlier. Another would complete a final cleaning of any volatile materials from the oven that will receive the sample. <br /><br />In the past two weeks, the team has refined techniques for using a powered rasp on the back of the arm's scoop to cut and collect shavings of material from the bottom of the trench. The trench, informally named "Snow White," is 4 to 5 centimeters deep (about 2 inches), about 23 centimeters wide (9 inches), and about 60 centimeters long (24 inches) long. <br /><br />"The rasped material ends up in the back of the scoop, and we have to transfer it to the front through a pathway. That takes a series of arm moves to be sure the material gets through the pathway," said Robert Bonitz of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., manager for the robotic arm. "The reason we're doing it today is we want to be sure the pathway is free of any material collected previously before we collect the next sample for delivery to TEGA." <br /><br />The planned activity would repeat the series of pathway-clearing moves twice, and check visually to be sure the front of the scoop is empty. It is also important to get the background counts as low as possible in TEGA's evolved-gas analyzer, which receives vapors emitted from the oven. The instrument was heated repeatedly before launch and during the flight to Mars to drive off any volatile material in it, such as water and carbon-dioxide gases that tend to stick on surfaces. It got another heating on Sol 58. <br /><br />"The baking last night was to remove background volatiles stuck on the walls of the instrument," said William Boynton of the University of Arizona, Tucson, lead scientist for TEGA. "What we're planning today is pumping out any gas we might have released with the baking." <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[bounce2]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I agree completely.Think of the thousands of people connected with this mission.&nbsp; The hundreds of thousands of man-hours put into it.&nbsp; The years of research and development.&nbsp; The time and effort and resources of all concerned..All of that rests in a scoop on the surface of a planet 336,595,500 kilometers (or so) away from us right now. Yeah, we need to get it right the first time.&nbsp; (Hope I got that range right... ) <br /> Posted by a_lost_packet_</DIV><br />On behalf of the moaners and bitchers,someone on this thread or another has pointed out that a human geologist would have accomplished in one eva what phoenix has yet to accomplish after 2 months .that is not a minor quibble nor "youthful"impatience.I am in awe of the great job that NASA engineers have done and are contintinuing to do .It seems to me they need no more apologists,what they need to do is move forward expeditiously to get this country exgited about its space program once more,In my mind that means MANNED exploration as all this tedious fiddling around with the oven doors etc. proves in my mind.</p><p>&nbsp;</p>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Thank you very much Wayne.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>I think this time, they will have got a great sample & that trench is looking noticeably deeper now, certainly deep enough to uncover ice, if that is what is in the regolth.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Whilst lurking around on the U of A site, found this image of the Sun, just 53 seconds past midnight on Sol 58. A zoom in to show the light scattering effect of the atmosphere, barely 4 degrees above the northern horizon.</strong></font></p><p><strong><font size="2" color="#000000">I wonder if similar will be done with an actual normal view, with the sun lurking low over the actual horizon @ midnight?&nbsp;</font></strong></p><p><font color="#000080"><strong><font size="2">00:00:53 Hrs, Sol 58, local time, Scandia Colles.</font></strong></font><br /><img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/6/b6818911-be32-45cb-9688-b4eb31768b53.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> </p><p><font size="2" color="#000000"><strong>Andrew Brown.&nbsp;</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[MeteorWayne]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>On behalf of the moaners and bitchers,someone on this thread or another has pointed out that a human geologist would have accomplished in one eva what phoenix has yet to accomplish after 2 months .that is not a minor quibble nor "youthful"impatience.I am in awe of the great job that NASA engineers have done and are contintinuing to do .It seems to me they need no more apologists,what they need to do is move forward expeditiously to get this country exgited about its space program once more,In my mind that means MANNED exploration as all this tedious fiddling around with the oven doors etc. proves in my mind.&nbsp; <br />Posted by bounce2</DIV><br /><br />All well and good. And where do you propose to get the money to do that? Such a mission would cost, what, 1000 times what Phoenix did? It ain't coming out of this Congress or Administration. Or the next one, or the one after that. </p><p>&nbsp;</p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080"><em><font color="#000000">But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id.</font></em> </font></p><p><font color="#000080">I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function</font><font color="#000080"> </font></p> </div>

 

[3488]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'><font color="#ff0000">All well and good. And where do you propose to get the money to do that? Such a mission would cost, what, 1000 times what Phoenix did? It ain't coming out of this Congress or Administration. Or the next one, or the one after that. &nbsp; <br /> Posted by MeteorWayne</font></DIV></p><p><font size="2"><strong>I totally agree Wayne.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>A manned mission would cost IMO at least 1,000 times Phoenix has, if not a huge amount more. It will happen one day, once costs are lower, due to the technology becoming more accessible post development & also when we know a great deal more about Mars, from many differing landing sites & increased observations from orbiters, before committing to such an endeavour. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>Also Phoenix has landed a long way north, in fact 4 degrees above the Martian Arctic Circle, where average temperatures are far lower than anywhere on Earth, Antarctica included. </strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>It's only as 'warm' as it is now due to the current 24/7 sunlight at the site & already the sun is getting lower. Soon I am sure, temperatures are going to start to plummet in response to this.<br /></strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>I'm afraid it seems to be a typical malaise affecting the IPod generation, lack of general background knowledge, lack of basic common sense, too much Playstation gaming, listening to manufactured, talentless here today, gone tomorrow crap on cheap tacky IPods, thinking that is cutting edge technology & cool.</strong></font></p><p><font size="2"><strong>No background insight as to what a major undertaking a crewed mission to Mars would be. It will happen, I'm sure, but when, that is the real question. 20 years, 50 years, 100 years, more?</strong></font></p><p><font color="#000080"><strong><font size="3">Sol 51 Weather Report.</font></strong></font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/2/a11371d9-754f-44e3-8276-bb052b24b986.Medium.jpg" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="3"><strong><font color="#000080">Weather readings Sol 38 - 51. </font></strong></font><br /> <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/6/ca76b85b-eb49-4528-867f-787f9e72f32c.Medium.gif" alt="" /><br />&nbsp;</p><p><font size="2"><strong>Andrew Brown.</strong></font></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#000080">"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".</font> <em><strong><font color="#000000">Linda Morabito </font></strong><font color="#800000">on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.</font></em></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://www.launchphotography.com/</font><br /><br /><font size="1" color="#000080">http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearth</font></p><p><font size="1" color="#000080">http://web.me.com/meridianijournal</font></p> </div>

 

[DrRocket]

<p><BR/>Replying to:<BR/><DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>...I'm afraid it seems to be a typical malaise affecting the IPod generation, lack of general background knowledge, lack of basic common sense, too much Playstation gaming, listening to manufactured, talentless here today, gone tomorrow crap on cheap tacky IPods, thinking that is cutting edge technology & cool.No background insight as to what a major undertaking a crewed mission to Mars would be. It will happen, ...Posted by 3488</DIV></p><p>&nbsp;So, underneath all the sugar-coating how do you really feel ?&nbsp; <br /></p> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>