Phoenix - North Pole Region Lander (PHX)

RedStreak · 2008-05-23 14:44:44

Man I hope the probe has better systems then their microphones did! :?

Josh Cryer · 2008-05-23 23:28:29

Hey guys.

I'll be around during the probe landing on Sunday, just wanted to say hey. You'll see a lot of me like when MER happened (read those threads, Stu and I were the most active participants; I hope he makes a wonderful return this year!).

dmuller · 2008-05-23 23:59:22

Announcement for those following the Phoenix Real-Time Simulation at http://www.dmuller.net/phoenix
Just in case anything goes wrong with the server, there is a backup / mirror site of the script at http://www.dmuller.com/phoenix
Enjoy watching the landing! Daniel

cIclops · 2008-05-24 01:57:23

Landing Variables Weighed - 22 May 2008

By Craig Covault/Aviation Week & Space Technology
PASADENA, Calif. - NASA Phoenix Mars lander flight controllers at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) are intensively assessing two final major variables that could affect the success of the Phoenix landing on the planet at 7:53 p.m. EST May 25.
One factor is the weather, specifically atmospheric density, at the north polar landing site. Data from Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) are being examined to determine if any updates will be needed to the timing of Phoenix parachute deployment.
Peter Smith, the mission principal investigator from the University of Arizona, said that so far neither atmospheric density nor weather overall appear to be problems at the landing site, although the team will remain vigilant until just before landing.
Slightly less atmospheric density at the Spirit rover's landing site caused by a dust storm a few days before its Jan. 4, 2004, landing caused its parachute to be slightly less effective than desired, nearly resulting in a crash.
If atmospheric density is a concern for Phoenix, controllers can program the spacecraft to deploy its parachute a few seconds earlier than the original timing. Such an update can be sent to Phoenix as late as three hours before touchdown. A few weeks ago MRO imagery showed two large dust devils roaming around the center of the landing site. There should be less of a chance for dust devils now due to somewhat increased temperatures at the site, but nobody wants Phoenix to be greeted by even a weak Martian dust devil on landing day.
"Much like conditions on Earth, the weather on Mars fluctuates and has an impact on the parameters we provide to the spacecraft during entry, descent and landing," says Brent Shockley, Phoenix configuration and information management engineer. "Therefore, engineers at JPL monitor the weather at the landing site up until landing and feed those conditions into the simulations run on the supercomputers at JPL to see how it might affect our landing and how we need to adjust the parameters we send to the spacecraft."
In addition to weather at the landing site, Phoenix controllers also are analyzing tracking data from a 2-second rocket engine firing May 17 to nudge the spacecraft slightly more toward the center of the 20-kilometer wide, 60-kilometer long landing ellipse. A final trajectory correction maneuver 21 hours before landing is being considered that would move the touchdown point about 8 miles toward the northwest, with the goal of hitting the center of the certified landing zone, where rock hazards are minimal. A final decision will be made on that maneuver about midday May 24, with the actual rocket engine firing at about 9 p.m. PST that night.
"Phoenix is getting closer, but there is obviously still plenty of work to be done," Shockley says.
If a person were riding on Phoenix now four days before landing, Mars would appear to be about the size of the full moon out in front of the spacecraft, but growing larger and larger day by day.
By midday May 25 it will be an enormous red planet dominating the blackness of space ahead of the lander just as it separates from its cruise stage. Phoenix will be approaching from the northern night side heading toward a touchdown just above the Martin arctic circle at midday local time at the landing site.

spacecraft status: in cruise mode, final approach

____Altitude above Mars: 400,000 km and falling
__Distance to Landing: 2,800,000 km and closing
____Speed relative to Mars: 9,718 km/h and increasing

39 hours to landing

Vincent · 2008-05-24 14:08:56

Translation on weather concerns For those not well versed in Martian weather.

The problem with the Spirit density was a dust storm. On Mars Dust storms can raise local or regional temperatures by 30C high into the atmosphere, unlike the day time maximum surface temperatures that can reach only a few hundred meters.

Warm air is less dense than cold air and produce less drag on the chute.

Vincent

cIclops · 2008-05-24 14:10:14

spaceflightnow mission status report -

SATURDAY, MAY 24, 2008 1940 GMT (3:40 p.m. EDT)
Mission managers will decide no later than 8:30 p.m. EDT whether Phoenix needs to perform a tiny maneuver tonight that would move its landing site target and lessen the odds of the craft coming down in a rocky area. Final trajectory analysis underway this afternoon will culminate with officials determining if the course-correction is necessary.
Phoenix has performed four maneuvers to change its flight path since launch. Tonight's would be a very brief maneuver, similar to pressing a spray can for a few moments. The result would move the target landing spot about six miles downtrack, officials said.
Phoenix remains in good shape and the landing zone weather appears favorable

EDL simulation with narration

spacecraft status: in cruise mode, final approach

____Altitude above Mars: 280,000 km and falling
__Distance to Landing: 1,900,000 km and closing
____Speed relative to Mars: 9,776 km/h and increasing

27 hours to landing

Vincent · 2008-05-24 18:45:04

Tomorrow will be the greatest day or the worst day. Dana will start his analysts. Hort will give his story. Sir Charles will give his input. They are the best brother.

Vincent will try an reconcile all of it.

I am getting jazzed

Vincent

Commodore · 2008-05-24 23:00:34

Whats our post landing life span?

Josh Cryer · 2008-05-24 23:23:46

dmuller, excellent simulation you put together, just wanted to thank you for sharing it here (I spammed it in IRC channels I'm in btw).

Josh Cryer · 2008-05-24 23:25:15

Stu might not be making an appearance in the "landing thread" this year, but he made it on the Planetary Societies Blog: http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001441/

cIclops · 2008-05-25 00:21:50

Lander Briefing - Landing Preview - 24 May 2008 - video 63 mins

Best briefing yet, lots of excitement and the usual "what's the worst thing that can happen" questions.

orbital view of recent weather conditions

spacecraft status: in cruise mode, final approach (TCM #6 canceled)

____Altitude above Mars: 180,000 km and falling
__Distance to Landing: 1,200,000 km and closing
____Speed relative to Mars: 9,879 km/h and increasing

local weather conditions: fine, clear sky, temperatures between -73°C and - 33°C

17 hours to landing

cIclops · 2008-05-25 00:47:18

Whats our post landing life span?

Primary mission is 90 sols. She should last as long as there's enough solar power - as winter approaches the Sun will slip below the horizon into the long winter night and she'll freeze to death inside a layer of CO2 ice. Total expected lifespan is about 160 sols after landing.

dmuller · 2008-05-25 03:41:58

Whats our post landing life span?

31 hours if both solar panels fail to extend ... let's hope that wont happen!

dmuller · 2008-05-25 05:14:30

... sharing it here (I spammed it in IRC channels I'm in btw).

Yes please feel free to spread the word ... it's meant to be seen after all!
Daniel

cIclops · 2008-05-25 06:19:30

spacecraft status: in cruise mode, final approach (TCM #6 canceled)

__Altitude above Mars: 120,000 km and falling
__Distance to Landing: 800,000 km and closing
_Speed relative to Mars: 10,014 km/h and accelerating

local weather conditions: fine, clear sky, temperatures between -73°C and - 33°C

11 hours to landing

Terraformer · 2008-05-25 07:54:03

I'm confused. Is it landing around 12 midnight in GMT?

Belinda · 2008-05-25 09:03:23

Is it landing around 12 midnight in GMT?

UTC is the same as GMT so, about half-past eleven.

Cheers,

RedStreak · 2008-05-25 10:20:44

Here's info from Space.com's site: http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/08 … eview.html

NASA will broadcast Phoenix's approach and landing attempt live on NASA TV from the JPL control room here, with commentary set to begin at 6:00 p.m. EDT (2200 GMT).

cIclops · 2008-05-25 16:26:24

In response to a question by a newmars participant today at Emily Lakdawalla's live video chat, she confirmed that MRO will attempt to image Phoenix as it descends by parachute. Also MEX will attempt to image the entry fireball. Once on the ground MRO should be able to image the lander within a few days.

spacecraft status: in EDL phase, (TCM #6X canceled)

__Altitude above Mars: 16,000 km and falling
__Distance to Landing: 92,000 km and closing
_Speed relative to Mars: 16,000 km/h and accelerating

local weather conditions: fine, clear sky, temperatures between -73°C and - 33°C

88 minutes to landing

cIclops · 2008-05-25 18:03:41

Phoenix has landed!

Belinda · 2008-05-25 18:05:51

Phoenix has landed!

Brilliant! When do we get the postcard?

cIclops · 2008-05-25 18:11:34

About 90 mins from now.

Rune · 2008-05-25 18:13:16

In a little over 2 hours, if the solar panels deploy ok.

Rune. Hello martians!

louis · 2008-05-25 19:18:17

Brilliant news!

I was slightly surprised to read this on a space news site:

"Images from the landing zone will hopefully be available in about two hours. This is the first successful rocket landing on Mars since 1976."

The first since 1976?

Now this involved parachute, I understand, but I think we should be giving far more attention to the potential for retro-rockets to solve the problems of Mars landings. If we develop LEO refuelling and ten tonne landers, I think there is scope for delivering sufficient fuel to Mars orbit to allow this.

Looking forward to the photos as I am sure we all are...

louis · 2008-05-25 20:46:34

First photos up!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoen … index.html

Nothing very inspiring I'm afraid in terms of landscape, but this mission is all in the science isn't it?

New Mars Forums

Announcement

#201 2008-05-23 14:44:44

Re: Phoenix - North Pole Region Lander (PHX)

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