PIA07247: Phoenix Mission Lander on Mars, Artist's Concept


Phoenix Mission Lander on Mars, Artist’s Concept

Caption:

The Phoenix Mission, slated for launch in August 2007, is the first project in NASA's openly competed program of Mars Scout missions. The mission's plan is to land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. The spacecraft and its instruments are designed to analyze samples collected from up to a half-meter (20 inches) deep by a robotic arm. The arm extends forward in this artist's concept of the lander on Mars.

Background Info:

Photojournal Note: As planned, the Phoenix lander, which landed May 25, 2008 23:53 UTC, ended communications in November 2008, about six months after landing, when its solar panels ceased operating in the dark Martian winter.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Phoenix
Instrument Host Phoenix Lander
Host Type Lander
Instrument
Detector
Extra Keywords Artwork, Color, Water
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2005-06-01
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/JPL
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA07247
Identifier PIA07247