Mission Phoenix

<h1>PIA10667: Phoenix's Path to Mars</h1><div class="PIA10667" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10667.mp4"></a><br />Click on the image for movie of<br />Phoenix's Path to Mars</p><p>This artist's animation shows the route NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander took to get from Earth to Mars. The spacecraft's path is shown in yellow, and the orbits of Mars and Earth are shown in red and blue, respectively. </p><p>Phoenix was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, Fla., on Aug. 4, 2007, when Earth and Mars were 195 million kilometers (121 million miles) apart. It will have traveled a total of 679 million kilometers (422 million miles) when it is scheduled to reach Mars on May 25, 2008. At that time, Earth and Mars will be farther apart, at 276 million kilometers (171 million miles). </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10667" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10667: Phoenix's Path to Mars sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10667: Phoenix's Path to Mars sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10667: Phoenix's Path to Mars
<h1>PIA10678: How to Correct a Trajectory</h1><div class="PIA10678" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10678.mov"></a><br />Click on the image for movie of<br /> How to Correct a Trajectory</p><p>This artist's animation shows NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander adjusting its course to Mars, an event called a trajectory correction maneuver. </p><p>Normally, as Phoenix cruises toward Mars, it maintains an orientation for its solar panels to catch sunlight and its antenna to face Earth. </p><p>For maneuvers to adjust the flight path, the entire spacecraft must be pivoted to get the trajectory-correction thrusters pointed in the direction that navigators have calculated for the maneuver. After the thrusters fire for the prescribed length of time, the spacecraft swivels back to its previous orientation. </p><p>This movie has been sped up. A trajectory correction maneuver actually takes much longer.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10678" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10678: How to Correct a Trajectory sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10678: How to Correct a Trajectory sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10678: How to Correct a Trajectory
<h1>PIA10680: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains</h1><div class="PIA10680" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image, one of the first captured by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars. The flat landscape is strewn with tiny pebbles and shows polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal contraction and expansion of surface ice. </p><p>Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. </p><p>This image was taken shortly after landing by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10680" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10680: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10680: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10680: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains
<h1>PIA10681: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains</h1><div class="PIA10681" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image, one of the first captured by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars. The flat landscape is strewn with tiny pebbles and shows polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal contraction and expansion of surface ice. </p><p>Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. </p><p>This image was taken shortly after landing by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10681" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10681: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10681: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10681: First Look at Martian Arctic Plains
<h1>PIA10682: Icy, Patterned Ground on Mars</h1><div class="PIA10682" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image shows a polygonal pattern in the ground near NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, similar in appearance to icy ground in the arctic regions of Earth. </p><p>Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. </p><p>This is an approximate-color image taken shortly after landing by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager, inferred from two color filters, a violet, 450-nanometer filter and an infrared, 750-nanometer filter.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10682" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10682: Icy, Patterned Ground on Mars sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10682: Icy, Patterned Ground on Mars sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10682: Icy, Patterned Ground on Mars
<h1>PIA10683: Polygon on Mars</h1><div class="PIA10683" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image shows a small-scale polygonal pattern in the ground near NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. This pattern is similar in appearance to polygonal structures in icy ground in the arctic regions of Earth.</p><p>Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude.</p><p>This image was acquired by the Surface Stereo Imager shortly after landing. On the Phoenix mission calendar, landing day is known as Sol 0, the first Martian day of the mission. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10683" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10683: Polygon on Mars sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10683: Polygon on Mars sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10683: Polygon on Mars
<h1>PIA10684: Arctic Landscape Within Reach</h1><div class="PIA10684" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image, one of the first captured by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, shows flat ground strewn with tiny pebbles and marked by small-scale polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal contraction and expansion of surface ice.</p><p>Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude.</p><p>This image was acquired at the Phoenix landing site by the Surface Stereo Imager on day 1 of the mission on the surface of Mars, or Sol 0, after the May 25, 2008, landing. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10684" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10684: Arctic Landscape Within Reach sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10684: Arctic Landscape Within Reach sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10684: Arctic Landscape Within Reach
<h1>PIA10685: On Solid Ground</h1><div class="PIA10685" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This view of one of the footpads of NASA's three-legged Phoenix Mars Lander shows a solid surface at the spacecraft's landing site. As the legs touched down on the surface of Mars, they kicked up some loose material on top of the footpad, but overall, the surface is unperturbed.</p><p>Each footpad is about the size of a large dinner plate, measuring 11.5 inches from rim to rim. The base of the footpad is shaped like the bottom of a shallow bowl to provide stability.</p><p>This image was taken by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager shortly after landing, at 17:07 local time on Mars.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10685" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10685: On Solid Ground sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10685: On Solid Ground sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10685: On Solid Ground
<h1>PIA10686: The Ground Beneath Phoenix's Feet</h1><div class="PIA10686" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This view of a portion of the spacecraft deck and one of the footpads of NASA's three-legged Phoenix Mars Lander shows a solid surface at the spacecraft's landing site. As the legs touched down on the surface of Mars, they kicked up some loose material on top of the footpad, but overall, the surface is unperturbed.</p><p>Each footpad is about the size of a large dinner plate, measuring 11.5 inches from rim to rim. The base of the footpad is shaped like the bottom of a shallow bowl to provide stability.</p><p>This image was taken by the Phoenix spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager shortly after landing on Mars. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10686" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10686: The Ground Beneath Phoenix's Feet sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10686: The Ground Beneath Phoenix's Feet sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10686: The Ground Beneath Phoenix's Feet
<h1>PIA10689: Solar Power Grid</h1><div class="PIA10689" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>Shown here is one of the first images taken by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander of one of the octagonal solar panels, which opened like two handheld, collapsible fans on either side of the spacecraft. Beyond this view is a small slice of the north polar terrain of Mars.</p><p>The successfully deployed solar panels are critical to the success of the 90-day mission, as they are the spacecraft's only means of replenishing its power. Even before these images reached Earth, power readings from the spacecraft indicated to engineers that the solar panels were already at work recharging the spacecraft's batteries.</p><p>Before deploying the Surface Stereo Imager to take these images, the lander waited about 15 minutes for the dust to settle.</p><p>This image was taken by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager on Sol, or Martian day, 0 (May 25, 2008). </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10689" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10689: Solar Power Grid sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10689: Solar Power Grid sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10689: Solar Power Grid
<h1>PIA10690: Phoenix Opens its Eyes</h1><div class="PIA10690" lang="en" style="width:496px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image, one of the first captured by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars. The flat landscape is strewn with tiny pebbles and shows polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonalcontraction and expansion of surface ice. </p><p>Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. </p><p>This is an approximate-color image taken shortly after landing by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager, inferred from two color filters, a violet, 450-nanometer filter and an infrared, 750-nanometer filter.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10690" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10690: Phoenix Opens its Eyes sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10690: Phoenix Opens its Eyes sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10690: Phoenix Opens its Eyes
<h1>PIA10691: Phoenix Footpad Up Close</h1><div class="PIA10691" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander did a small amount of excavation as it touched down on pebbly north polar terrain on the Red Planet, as shown in this close-up view of one of the lander's three footpads.</p><p>The footpad appears to have slid a few inches as the lander touched down.</p><p>This image was taken by the Surface Stereo Imager shortly after Phoenix landed May 25, 2008.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10691" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10691: Phoenix Footpad Up Close sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10691: Phoenix Footpad Up Close sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10691: Phoenix Footpad Up Close
<h1>PIA10692: How Phoenix Gets a Look at its Footing</h1><div class="PIA10692" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10692.mp4"></a><br />Click on the image for the animation</p><p>This artist's animation shows how NASA's three-legged Phoenix Mars Lander is able to get a better look at its footing and the physical characteristics of the underlying soil on the surface of the Red Planet. Because the Surface Stereo Imager is able to swivel in any compass direction as well as up and down, it can "see" and take snapshots of the footpad beneath the camera's location near one edge of the spacecraft deck.</p><p>Each footpad is about the size of a large dinner plate, measuring 11.5 inches from rim to rim. The base of the footpad is shaped like the bottom of a shallow bowl to provide stability.</p><p>The footpad image was taken by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager at 17:07 local Mars time, shortly after landing May 25, 2008.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10692" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10692: How Phoenix Gets a Look at its Footing sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10692: How Phoenix Gets a Look at its Footing sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10692: How Phoenix Gets a Look at its Footing
<h1>PIA10693: Looking out Across the Martian Polar Plains</h1><div class="PIA10693" lang="en" style="width:640px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10693.mov"></a><br />Click on the image for the animation</p><p>This movie shows the vast plains of the northern polar region of Mars, as seen by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shortly after touching down on the Red Planet. The flat landscape is strewn with tiny pebbles and shows polygonal cracking, a pattern seen widely in Martian high latitudes and also observed in permafrost terrains on Earth. The polygonal cracking is believed to have resulted from seasonal contraction and expansion of surface ice. </p><p>Phoenix touched down on Mars at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. </p><p>This is an approximate-color image taken by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager, inferred from two color filters, a violet, 450-nanometer filter and an infrared, 750-nanometer filter. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10693" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10693: Looking out Across the Martian Polar Plains sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10693: Looking out Across the Martian Polar Plains sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10693: Looking out Across the Martian Polar Plains
<h1>PIA10695: How Phoenix Talks to Earth</h1><div class="PIA10695" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10695.mp4"></a><br />Click on the image for the animation</p><p>This animation shows how NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander stays in contact with Earth. As NASA's Mars Odyssey orbiter passes overhead approximately every two hours, Phoenix transmits images and scientific data from the surface to the orbiter, which then relays the data to NASA's Deep Space Network of antennas on Earth. Similarly, NASA's Deep Space Network transmits instructions from Earth to Odyssey, which then relays the information to Phoenix.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10695" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10695: How Phoenix Talks to Earth sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10695: How Phoenix Talks to Earth sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10695: How Phoenix Talks to Earth
<h1>PIA10696: How to Take a Picture of a Spacecraft Landing</h1><div class="PIA10696" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10696.mov"></a><br />Click on the image for the animation</p><p>This artist's animation shows how NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter was able to snap a picture of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander as it parachuted down to the surface of Mars. </p><p>The purple lines shows Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's field of view.</p><p>The image of Phoenix on its parachute (see <a href="/catalog/PIA10698" class="external free" target="wpext">PIA10698</a>) was taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10696" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10696: How to Take a Picture of a Spacecraft Landing sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10696: How to Take a Picture of a Spacecraft Landing sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10696: How to Take a Picture of a Spacecraft Landing
<h1>PIA10697: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance</h1><div class="PIA10697" lang="en" style="width:420px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander can be seen parachuting down to Mars, in this image captured by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This is the first time that a spacecraft has imaged the final descent of another spacecraft onto a planetary body.</p><p>From a distance of about 310 kilometers (193 miles) above the surface of Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter pointed its HiRISE camera obliquely toward Phoenix to capture this shot. Phoenix had just opened its parachute 46 seconds earlier, jettisoned its heat shield and was two minutes and 52 seconds away from landing on the Red Planet. The image reveals the parachute and a dangling Phoenix below. The chords attaching the spacecraft's back shell and parachute are faintly visible. The surroundings look dark, but correspond to the fully illuminated Martian surface, which is much darker than the parachute and back shell.</p><p>Phoenix released its parachute at an altitude of about 12.6 kilometers (7.8 miles).</p><p>The HiRISE, acquired this image on May 25, 2008, at 4:36 p.m. Pacific Time (7:36 p.m. Eastern Time). It is a highly oblique view of the Martian surface, 26 degrees above the horizon, or 64 degrees from the normal straight-down imaging of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The image has a scale of 0.76 meters per pixel. </p><p>This image has been brightened to show the patterned surface of Mars in the background.</p><p>NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is operated by the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the instrument was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10697" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10697: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10697: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10697: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance
<h1>PIA10698: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance</h1><div class="PIA10698" lang="en" style="width:420px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander can be seen parachuting down to Mars, in this image captured by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. This is the first time that a spacecraft has imaged the final descent of another spacecraft onto a planetary body.</p><p>From a distance of about 310 kilometers (193 miles) above the surface of Mars, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter pointed its HiRISE camera obliquely toward Phoenix to capture this shot. Phoenix had just opened its parachute 46 seconds earlier, jettisoned its heat shield and was two minutes and 52 seconds away from landing on the Red Planet. The image reveals the parachute and a dangling Phoenix below. The chords attaching the spacecraft's back shell and parachute are faintly visible. The surroundings look dark, but correspond to the fully illuminated Martian surface, which is much darker than the parachute and back shell.</p><p>Phoenix released its parachute at an altitude of about 12.6 kilometers (7.8 miles).</p><p>The HiRISE acquired this image on May 25, 2008, at 4:36 p.m. Pacific Time (7:36 p.m. Eastern Time). It is a highly oblique view of the Martian surface, 26 degrees above the horizon, or 64 degrees from the normal straight-down imaging of Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The image has a scale of 0.76 meters per pixel. </p><p>NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, is the prime contractor for the project and built the spacecraft. The High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment is operated by the University of Arizona, Tucson, and the instrument was built by Ball Aerospace & Technologies Corp., Boulder, Colo.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10698" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10698: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10698: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10698: Phoenix Makes a Grand Entrance
<h1>PIA10699: American Flag and Mini-DVD Attached to Deck of Phoenix</h1><div class="PIA10699" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image, released on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, shows the American flag and a mini-DVD on the Phoenix's deck, which is about 3 ft. above the Martian surface. The mini-DVD from the Planetary Society contains a message to future Martian explorers, science fiction stories and art inspired by the Red Planet, and the names of more than a quarter million earthlings.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10699" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10699: American Flag and Mini-DVD Attached to Deck of Phoenix sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10699: American Flag and Mini-DVD Attached to Deck of Phoenix sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10699: American Flag and Mini-DVD Attached to Deck of Phoenix
<h1>PIA10700: Animation Showing Backshell and Parachute</h1><div class="PIA10700" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10700.mp4"></a><br /> Click on image for animation</p><p>This animation zooms in on the backshell and parachute, about 300 meters to the south of the Phoenix lander. In the distance, about 9 miles or 15 kilometers away, is a range of hills.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10700" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10700: Animation Showing Backshell and Parachute sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10700: Animation Showing Backshell and Parachute sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10700: Animation Showing Backshell and Parachute
<h1>PIA10701: Color Image of Phoenix Lander on Mars Surface</h1><div class="PIA10701" lang="en" style="width:508px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This is an enhanced-color image from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. It shows the Phoenix lander with its solar panels deployed on the Mars surface. The spacecraft appears more blue than it would in reality.</p><p>The blue/green and red filters on the HiRISE camera were used to make this picture. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10701" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10701: Color Image of Phoenix Lander on Mars Surface sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10701: Color Image of Phoenix Lander on Mars Surface sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10701: Color Image of Phoenix Lander on Mars Surface
<h1>PIA10702: Color Image of Phoenix Heat Shield and Bounce Mark</h1><div class="PIA10702" lang="en" style="width:404px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This shows a color image from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment camera. It shows the Phoenix heat shield and bounce mark on the Mars surface.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10702" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10702: Color Image of Phoenix Heat Shield and Bounce Mark sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10702: Color Image of Phoenix Heat Shield and Bounce Mark sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10702: Color Image of Phoenix Heat Shield and Bounce Mark
<h1>PIA10703: Color of Parachute on Ground</h1><div class="PIA10703" lang="en" style="width:443px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This is an enhanced-color image from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera. It shows the Phoenix parachute top attached to the backshell bottom on the Mars surface. In this image, north is down.</p><p>The blue/green and red filters on the HiRISE camera were used to make this picture. .</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10703" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10703: Color of Parachute on Ground sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10703: Color of Parachute on Ground sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10703: Color of Parachute on Ground
<h1>PIA10704: Simulated Imaging of Phoenix Landing Site</h1><div class="PIA10704" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10704.mov"></a><br /> Click on image for animation</p><p>This animation simulates Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter using the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera to take a picture of the Phoenix lander roughly 22 hours after landing. The animation concludes with the HiRISE image showing the parachute attached to the back shell (bottom), the heat shield (right center), and the lander itself (top). </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10704" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10704: Simulated Imaging of Phoenix Landing Site sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10704: Simulated Imaging of Phoenix Landing Site sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10704: Simulated Imaging of Phoenix Landing Site
<h1>PIA10705: Phoenix Descending with Crater in the Background</h1><div class="PIA10705" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera acquired this image of Phoenix hanging from its parachute as it descended to the Martian surface. Shown here is a 10 kilometer (6 mile) diameter crater informally called "Heimdall," and an improved full-resolution image of the parachute and lander. Although it appears that Phoenix is descending into the crater, it is actually about 20 kilometers (about 12 miles) in front of the crater. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10705" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10705: Phoenix Descending with Crater in the Background sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10705: Phoenix Descending with Crater in the Background sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10705: Phoenix Descending with Crater in the Background
<h1>PIA10706: Zeroing In on Phoenix's Final Destination</h1><div class="PIA10706" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This image shows the latest estimate, marked by a green crosshair, of the location of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. Radio communications between Phoenix and spacecraft flying overhead have allowed engineers to narrow the lander's location to an area about 300 meters (984) long by 100 meters (328 feet) across, or about three football fields long and one football field wide.</p><p>During landing, Phoenix traveled across the field of view shown here from the upper left to the lower right. The area outlined in blue represents the area where Phoenix was predicted to land before arriving on Mars. During Phoenix's descent through the Martian atmosphere to the surface of the Red Planet, continuous measurements of the distance the spacecraft traveled enabled engineers to narrow its location further to the circular area outlined in red.</p><p>Using radio signals to home in on Phoenix's final location is sort of like trying to find a kitten by listening to the sound of its meows. As NASA's Odyssey spacecraft passes overhead, it receives radio transmissions from the lander. When Odyssey passes overhead again along a slightly different path, it receives new radio signals. With each successive pass, it is able to "fix" the location of Phoenix a little more precisely.</p><p>Meanwhile, NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter has taken actual images of the spacecraft on the surface, enabling scientists to match the lander's location to geologic features seen from orbit.</p><p>The large crater to the right is "Heimdall crater," the slopes of which are visible in images of the parachute that lowered Phoenix to the surface, taken by the High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment instrument on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter. The map shown here is made up of topography data taken by NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. It shows exaggerated differences in the height of the terrain. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10706" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10706: Zeroing In on Phoenix's Final Destination sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10706: Zeroing In on Phoenix's Final Destination sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10706: Zeroing In on Phoenix's Final Destination
<h1>PIA10707: Protective Film Moves Aside</h1><div class="PIA10707" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>Relatively warmer daytime temperatures on Mars have allowed the biobarrier -- a shiny, protective film -- to peel away a little more from the robotic arm of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander.</p><p>This image shows the spacecraft's robotic arm in its stowed configuration, with the biobarrier unpeeled on landing day, or Sol (Martian day) 0, and the lander's first full day on Mars, Sol 1.</p><p>The "elbow" of the arm can be seen at the top center of the picture, and the biobarrier is the shiny film seen to the left of the arm.</p><p>The biobarrier is an extra precaution to protect Mars from contamination with any bacteria from Earth. While the whole spacecraft was decontaminated through cleaning, filters and heat, the robotic arm was given additional protection because it is the only spacecraft part that will directly touch the ice below the surface of Mars.</p><p>Before the arm was heated, it was sealed in the biobarrier, which is made of a trademarked film called Tedlar that holds up to baking like a turkey-basting bag. This ensures that any new bacterial spores that might have appeared during the final steps before launch and during the journey to Mars will not contact the robotic arm.</p><p>After Phoenix landed, springs were used to pop back the barrier, giving it room to deploy.</p><p>These images were taken on May 25, 2008 and May 26, 2008 by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10707" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10707: Protective Film Moves Aside sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10707: Protective Film Moves Aside sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10707: Protective Film Moves Aside
<h1>PIA10708: Ready to Unfurl</h1><div class="PIA10708" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10708.mp4"></a><br /> Click on image for animation</p><p>This movie from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows the spacecraft's robotic arm in its stowed configuration, with its biobarrier unpeeled. The arm is still folded up, with its "elbow" shown at upper left and its scoop at bottom right. The biobarrier is the shiny film seen to the left of the arm in this view.</p><p>The barrier is an extra precaution to protect Mars from contamination with any bacteria from Earth. While the whole spacecraft was decontaminated through cleaning, filters and heat, the robotic arm was given additional protection because it is the only spacecraft part that will directly touch the ice below the surface of Mars.</p><p>Before the arm was heated, it was sealed in the biobarrier, which is made of a trademarked film called Tedlar that holds up to baking like a turkey-basting bag. This ensures that any new bacterial spores that might have come about during the final steps before launch, and during the journey to Mars, will not contact the robotic arm.</p><p>After Phoenix landed, springs were used to pop back the barrier, giving it room to deploy. The arm is scheduled to begin to unlatch on the second Martian day of the mission, or Sol 3 (May 28, 2008).</p><p>This image was taken on Sol 1 (May 26, 2008) by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10708" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10708: Ready to Unfurl sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10708: Ready to Unfurl sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10708: Ready to Unfurl
<h1>PIA10709: How to Take a Picture of A Robotic Arm</h1><div class="PIA10709" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p><a href="/archive/PIA10709.mp4"></a><br /> Click on image for animation</p><p>This movie first shows an artist's animation of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander snapping a picture of its arm, then transitions to the actual picture of the arm in its stowed configuration, with its biobarrier unpeeled.</p><p>The arm is still folded up, with its "elbow" shown at upper left and its scoop at bottom right. The biobarrier is the shiny film seen to the left of the arm in this view.</p><p>The barrier is an extra precaution to protect Mars from contamination with any bacteria from Earth. While the whole spacecraft was decontaminated through cleaning, filters and heat, the robotic arm was given additional protection because it is the only spacecraft part that will directly touch the ice below the surface of Mars.</p><p>Before the arm was heated, it was sealed in the biobarrier, which is made of a trademarked film called Tedlar that holds up to baking like a turkey-basting bag. This ensures that any new bacterial spores that might have come about during the final steps before launch, and during the journey to Mars, will not contact the robotic arm.</p><p>After Phoenix landed, springs were used to pop back the barrier, giving it room to deploy. The arm is scheduled to begin to unlatch on the third Martian day of the mission, or Sol 3 (May 28, 2008).</p><p>This image was taken on Sol 1 (May 26, 2008) by the spacecraft's Surface Stereo Imager. </p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10709" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10709: How to Take a Picture of A Robotic Arm sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10709: How to Take a Picture of A Robotic Arm sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10709: How to Take a Picture of A Robotic Arm
<h1>PIA10712: View of Phoenix's Surroundings as of Sol 2</h1><div class="PIA10712" lang="en" style="width:800px;text-align:left;margin:auto;background-color:#000;padding:10px;max-height:150px;overflow:auto;"><p>This is a cylindrical mosaic of all data, as of the end of sol 2, from the right eye of the Surface Stereo Imager (SSI) instrument on board the Phoenix lander.</p><p>The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.<br /><br /><a href="http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10712" onclick="window.open(this.href); return false;" title="Voir l'image PIA10712: View of Phoenix's Surroundings as of Sol 2 sur le site de la NASA">Voir l'image PIA10712: View of Phoenix's Surroundings as of Sol 2 sur le site de la NASA.</a></div>
PIA10712: View of Phoenix's Surroundings as of Sol 2

Revenir