Navtej Kohli very excited and curious to know updates of the Phoenix Mars mission Lander. according to Navtej Kohli the study of soil of the mars which did by TEGA oven will be helpful for determining future strategy for upcoming mission .
According to the NASA Phoenix Mars Lander team members they are planning, samples will deliver to Lander deck instrument will go to the fourth of the four cells of Phoenix's wet chemistry laboratory. While the chosen sources for the sample taken from “Show White’ trench on the eastern end of the Phoenix robotic arm work area reach.
There was major achievement , when in July trench yielded a sample in which another analytical instrument , the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) , proving that that there is water ice on the Mars . While one of the three cells had already used on wet chemistry laboratory for analyzing a samples from snow white. When Lander take off from Earth its takes many things which will be sued during experiments like purified water which be used to identify soluble nutrients and other chemicals in the soil . In the wet chemistry soil mixed with the earth water for determining besides lander is alkaline and the availability of magnesium, sodium, potassium, chloride and perchlorate in the soil.
Now the Phoenix team looking for filing the last four of eight single use oven of the TEGA instrument without loosing time an halting processes due to another process in running and want to work now . While the strategy behind that to get more and more samples till energy is available for digging. Northern Martin summer is just half over. Now the less sunshine is reaching on the solar panel such that less electricity is producing .
Phoenix Project Manager Barry Goldstein of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. told that "Now that the sun is not constantly above the horizon at our landing site we are generating less power every sol," and he is also sated that "When we landed in late May, and through much of our mission, we generated about 3,500 watt-hours every sol. We are currently at about 2,500 watt-hours, and sinking daily. With the remaining sols we need to scurry to squeeze the last bit of science out of the mission.” Moreover everyone knows that one hundred watts is equivalent to what is needed to illuminating a 100-watt bulb for one hour.
During backing the samples TEGA also studying that what be the temperature at which volatile ingredients in the soil are vaporized. There are also be a mass spectrometer to identify the vapors. For controlling the carrier gas which used for transporting the vapors to the mass spectrometer is no longer reliable , but scientist still having hopes that remaining samples will yield enough vaporized water and carbon dioxide to carry any scarcer vapor to the speedometer . The team is also examining possible operational workarounds for unanticipated opening of a valve controlling flow of calibration gas.
Next sample for to go into TEGA oven and the wet chemistry laboratory for this Snow White trench is chosen. Team also planning for using the robotic arm rasp to churn up ice martial
from the hard floor to the trench. While two times before Ice-rich samples stuck inside the scoop
in TEGA oven . However, a test run on Aug. 30 verified that an ice-rich sample can be delivered using methods that minimize the time the sample is in the scoop and the exposure of the scoop to direct sunlight.
Navtej Kohli hoping that this journey of the Phoenix Mars lander makes milestone and giving various clues about existence and possibilities of the life on Mars . Yet its was delivering many data that be proven for various martial available on the Mars .But more and more mission needed before that man will reach on Mars to dig the truth about Mars .
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Navtej Kohli had welcomed already when the NASA officials had announced for its Phoenix mission extension and Phoenix is doing its study about Mars soil and environment. While there is no proof of life found yet on the Mars but Navtej Kohli said that its provides new ways for further study about Mars and other planet in our Solar System .
There are more updates released from Tucson, Arizona US about the Phoenix mission . Sample of Martin Soil for analysis is coming from a trench about three times deeper in comparison to previous trenches , which dug by Phoenix Mars Lander . While Phoenix mission had enjoyed its successful 90 days on Mars on date 26 August 2008 , he had took major steps for study about Mars soil .
Phoenix Mission Project Manager Barry Goldstein of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said "As we near what we originally expected to be the full length of the mission, we are all thrilled with how well the mission is going," Phoenix main work for during this mission , to take sample of soil from the bottom of trench “Stone Soup “ which is 18 centimeter or 7 inches deep . After that , Lander robotic arm will sprinkle soil from the sample into the cell of the wet chemistry laboratory. This deck-mounted laboratory, part of Phoenix's Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA), has previously used two of its four soil-testing cells.
"In the first two cells we analyzed samples from the surface and the ice interface, and the results look similar. Our objective for Cell 3 is to use it as an exploratory cell to look at something that might be different," said JPL's Michael Hecht, lead scientist for MECA. "The appeal of Stone Soup is that this deep area may collect and concentrate different kinds of materials."
From where was Phoenix landed , polygon-shaped hummocks that characterize the arctic plain , but in reality stone Soup lies on borderline or natural trough , between two of the low . The trench towards the left or west of the robotic arm work area on the north side of the Lander. Phoenix Lander had to do much effort for digging near a polygon center , After hitting a layer of icy soil which was very hard just likes concrete , about 5 centimeters, or 2 inches, below the ground surface . In the Stone Soup trench at a polygon margin, the digging has not yet hit an icy layer like that
"The trough between polygons is sort of a trap where things can accumulate," Hecht said. "Over a long timescale, there may even be circulation of material sinking at the margins and rising at the center."
While the scientist team had finalist two sites for the next sample for its wet chemistry lab for analysis.This past weekend, Stone Soup won out. "We had a shootout between Stone Soup and white stuff in a trench called 'Upper Cupboard,'" Hecht said. "If we had been able to confirm that the white material was a salt-rich deposit, we would have analyzed that, but we were unable to confirm that with various methods."
While choosing the sampling areas scientist keep in mind to gain information about salt distribution in Phoenix work area and finally existence of liquid water on the Mars. Many team members are in same thinking that salt may be concentrate in the places that are wet now. When Phoenix is about to deliver samples from Stone Soup to wet chemistry laboratory, also using Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer for analyzing soil sample collected last week from another trench , at a depth intermediate between the surface and the hard, icy layer.
Peter Smith is leading the Phoenix mission from the University of Arizona with the prpject management at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif , and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, Denver. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus in Denmark; the Max Planck Institute in Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. The California Institute of Technology in Pasadena manages JPL for NASA.
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Navtej Kohli that NASA have to fast their studies about MARS soil and environment and have to reach a point which be studied after Phoenix Mission. Sometimes looks like magic and also very excitement that how be environment and soil or other planet far away from the earth . Navtej Kohli assure that some life molecules also exist in the Mars air or even ice or soil .
After Phoenix Lander Confirms Existence of ICE on Mars, NASA scientist very excited and hence extend NASA phoenix mission to September. Taking this success as a roadmap now NASA looks further for getting something more about Mars .
NASA continued its study over the Martian soil and depositing a sample of surface soil into a gap between partially opened doors to an analytical oven on the lander
After studying soil robotic arm of Phoenix delivered soil and named it "Rosy Red" through a narrow opening to a screen above the No. 5 oven on the lander's Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer (TEGA). Few particle passed through the screen and but not enough to fill the oven and now the study begin. The team of Phoenix command TEGA for vibrating the screen hence more material reached to screen but still not enough to go further study.
"There appear to be clumps blocking the opening,” said by Doug Ming of NASA Johnson Space Center, Houston who is leading Phoenix team at moment .. "However, we have seen in the past that when this soil sits for a while, it disperses. We intend to fill an oven with this material, either by additional vibration of the same screen or by opening doors to one of the other TEGA cells."
Conductivity measurement completed on date 6 August 2008 , ran from the afternoon of Phoenix's 70th Martian day, or sol, to the morning of Sol 71. For this study a fork inserted into the soil to check how electricity flows from one prong to other prong. NASA officials also announced that they extending the width of exploratory trench informally named "Neverland," which extends between two rocks on the surface of the ground.
The Phoenix mission is led by Peter Smith of The University of Arizona with project management at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, located in Denver. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
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Navtej Kohli
Navtej Kohli feeling nice and happy about to introduce Mars Lander Phoenix Mission information blog. NASA steps to make a city going to be right direction and Navtej kohli remark that Phoenix a Great steps for making space on Mars planet.
There are very technical reason behind for choosing that name and designing Phoenix . Briefly why Phoenix name came into existence and why this spacecraft name chosen Phoenix. Phoenix basically an mystical bird like eagle and symbol of ancient culture . Some old Greeks are in are in believes that Phoenix bird lives in Arabia which sings beautiful morning song , also Phoenix lived near about 500 year , but unfortunately there are no Phoenix bird on earth at the time . When the bird's death approaches, it bursts into flames, and a new bird springs from the consumed pyre. For this sake of Phoenix bird Phoenix Mission is also “raises from the ashes” . This Mission came into existence while two Mars mission named Mars Polar Lander and Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander had failed previously before Phoenix Mission.
The Mars Polar Lander failed to return data upon its arrival to Mars' antarctic region on December 3, 1999 and left many ambitious science goals undone. Phoenix uses three instruments from this earlier polar lander, the SSI, the RA and the TEGA.
Phoenix Mission is a modification of Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander which was built in 2000. Which improves to take entry, descent and landing into major consideration? Phoenix recovers two instruments delivered for the '01 lander that have been in protected storage: the MARDI and the MECA. Also, the RA has been modified from the '01 lander version.
Why Mars is Chosen for discovery and make a city . Scientist know well that Mars is coldest desert planet which having no existence of water but in Martin artic , water is water ice lurks just below ground level. In 2002 Mars Odyssey Orbiter discovery gives substantial proof about water ice in the northern artic plain of Mars . The Phoenix lander targets this circumpolar region using a robotic arm to dig through the protective top soil layer to the water ice below and ultimately, to bring both soil and water ice to the lander platform for sophisticated scientific analysis.
Before that Phoenix spacecraft no other mission was successfully send data on the earth and the clues which make possible life on Mars go in vein. Phoenix spacecraft is the first one which successfully returning data data from either polar region providing an important contribution to the overall Mars science strategy "Follow the Water" and will be instrumental in achieving the four science goals of NASA's long-term Mars Exploration Program.
-- Whether life exist on Mars or Not?
--- What be climate of the Mars?
--- What be Geology structure of Mars?
--- Making a path for Human Exploration ?
The Phoenix Mission has two bold objectives to support these goals, which are to (1) study the history of water in the Martian arctic and (2) search for evidence of a habitable zone and assess the biological potential of the ice-soil boundary.
First vision : A deep study about water History in all its phases
While the water existence on Mars is concerns ‘Water exist on mars into two states : solid and Gas “ While we are moving towards pole interaction between the solid water ice just below surface , also water vapor in the air makes Mars climate of Mars very critical. Phoenix is designed to collect data meteorological data from the Martin arctic to determine what was the climate on Mars and what be changes possible on Mars in upcoming years .
But scientist are sure for no liquid water exist on the Mars , but Mars Global Surveyor, Odyssey and Exploration Rover missions discoveries tells that , for billion years ago water was flowed in canyons and persisted in shallow lakes. Phoenix is made to discover whether or not water exist as like before 100,000 years ago. After analyzing the chemistry and mineralogy of the soil and ice using robust instruments scientist can understand history of mars. for organic signatures and potential habitability.
Second Vision : Quest for Habitable Zone and discover oil-soil boundary potential
Current discoveries reveals that , at extreme conditions it is possible that bacterial spores can lie dormant in bitterly cold, dry, and airless conditions for millions of years and become activated once conditions become favorable. It might be possible that dormant microbial colonies exist in the Martin arctic , due to periodic wobbling of the planet liquid water may exist for brief periods about every 100,000 years making the soil environment habitable.
Phoenix specially designed to asses the habitability of Martin by special chemical experiments that clarify composition of soil and life giving elements like carbon , nitrogen , phosphorous and hydrogen also after identifying chemical analysis Phoenix also check reduction-oxidation (redox) molecular pairs for determining life support chemical exist in the soil or not also other soil properties like pH and saltiness.
Some scientist having theory that , it might be possible , despite having life sustain ingredients in soil , soil having many hazards which are barrier for biological growth, like powerful oxidants which break apart organic molecules . Powerful oxidants that can break apart organic molecules are expected in dry environments bathed in UV light, such as the surface of Mars. But a few inches below the surface, the soil could protect organisms from the harmful solar radiation. Phoenix will dig deep enough into the soil to analyze the soil environment potentially protected from UV looking.
Phoenix mission is the hard step of NASA scout class , which came into existence because of government, academia, and industry collaborative approach. Peter Smith of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory is the Principal Investigator of the Phoenix mission and looks after all about that .
There are three major name which makes Phoenix dream came into existence and working hard for that Peter Smith of the University of Arizona's Lunar and Planetary Laboratory ,project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) and the flight system manager at Lockheed Martin Space Systems (LMSS) . They work hard and share his ideas for making the Mars Phoenix lender dreams became true.
PI Smith has delegated project management responsibility to JPL. Project manager Barry Goldstein leads the JPL teams like engineers and scientist, dedicatedly working for payload management and flight system with mission operation. Such functions are supported by system engineering , mission assurance withy business office . JPL work as interface to Deep space Network , used for sending sequence and receiving data.
During the 10-month cruise phase to Mars, JPL maintains the proper cruise trajectory to get the spacecraft to Mars by performing correcting maneuvers. Finally, JPL will lead the Phoenix spacecraft through the highly risky entry-descent-landing process.
Phoenix designing , construction and testing Martin engineering team leader Ed Sedivy was also Lockheed for making Mars Surveyor 2001 lander which give milestone for making of Phoenix . Marin engineering team works to know what be drawback in previous mission spacecraft and developed enhanced spacecraft after extensive testing . Lockheed Martin team will closely monitor Phoenix's health by linking their spacecraft operations centers with those at JPL and the University of Arizona.
Leslie Tamppari who is project scientist at JPL working closely with PI smith from Arizona to lead international assembly of scientist from government , research institute , academics and private bodies which already had experienced with pervious mission . Scientist from hydrology, geology, chemistry, biology, and atmospheric science background divided into four instrument grouping , each group having co-investigator (Co-I) scientist to lead .
The groups are not intended to be restrictive: Co-Is are expected to have a broad, cross-instrument participation driven by scientific objectives. The science team will co-locate for the first three months of the mission, to operate all the instruments and to perform the first analysis on data that may provide important answers to the following questions: (1) can the Martian arctic support life, (2) what is the history of water at the landing site, and (3) how is the Martian climate affected by polar dynamics?
To answer these questions, Phoenix uses some of the most sophisticated and advanced technology ever sent to Mars. A robust robotic arm built by JPL digs through the soil to the water ice layer underneath, and delivers soil and ice samples to the mission's experiments. On the deck, miniature ovens and a mass spectrometer, built by the University of Arizona and University of Texas-Dallas, will provide chemical analysis of trace matter. A chemistry lab-in-a-box, assembled by JPL, will characterize the soil and ice chemistry. Imaging systems, designed by the University of Arizona, University of Neuchatel (Switzerland) (providing an atomic force microscope), Max Planck Institute (Germany) and Malin Space Science Systems, will provide an unprecedented view of Mars—spanning 12 powers of 10 in scale. The Canadian Space Agency will deliver a meteorological station, marking the first significant involvement of Canada in a mission to Mars.
The University of Arizona will also host the Phoenix Mission's Science Operations Center (SOC) in its Tucson facility. From the SOC, the Phoenix science and engineering teams will command the lander once it is safely landed on Mars, and also, receive data as it is transmitted directly to Earth. A payload interoperability test bed (PIT) will be located with the SOC to verify an optimal integration of Phoenix's complex scientific instruments. Working together, the SOC and PIT will ensure a seamless scientific and engineering process—from science goal to instrument commands to down-linked and analyzed data.
As with all major NASA missions, Phoenix has a comprehensive education and public outreach program. PI Smith leads the program, which is managed by the University of Arizona, and connects to outstanding educational resources in the desert southwest region, and throughout the U.S.
This powerful team is the cornerstone to the Phoenix mission, which has high hopes to be the first mission to "touch" and examine water on Mars—ultimately, to pave the way for future robotic missions, and possibly, human exploration.