Comments on: HiRISE sees Phoenix sitting on Mars http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/ I am an astronomer, writer, and skeptic. I likes reality the way it is, and I aims to keep it that way. My real name is Phil Plait, and I run the Bad Astronomy blog. Sun, 05 Jul 2009 04:25:58 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Die Beste Aller Zeiten - Eike Pierstorff : Blog Archive : Space Loo or, human interest stories are not actually interesting http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92406 Die Beste Aller Zeiten - Eike Pierstorff : Blog Archive : Space Loo or, human interest stories are not actually interesting Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:33:22 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92406 [...] is also a good word to describe the photos from phoenix’ landing shot by the HiRise spacecraft - see here and here (and while you#re at it read also the rest of Emily Lakdawallas blog at he [...] […] is also a good word to describe the photos from phoenix’ landing shot by the HiRise spacecraft - see here and here (and while you#re at it read also the rest of Emily Lakdawallas blog at he […]

]]> By: NelC http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92405 NelC Mon, 02 Jun 2008 21:20:34 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92405 Fossilman, I imagine that Phoenix is heated. As I recall, the two Mars rovers have to be parked at night where they can catch the light in the morning, to power the heaters so that they can move. As to the regolith, that's loose material, dryer than Saharan desert sands, so there's nothing there to bind the gravel together in the cold. Fossilman, I imagine that Phoenix is heated. As I recall, the two Mars rovers have to be parked at night where they can catch the light in the morning, to power the heaters so that they can move. As to the regolith, that’s loose material, dryer than Saharan desert sands, so there’s nothing there to bind the gravel together in the cold.

]]> By: Fossilman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92404 Fossilman Sun, 01 Jun 2008 03:55:14 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92404 Can someone explain to me how Phoenix can operate at minus 30 to minus 80 degrees celsius? I work in a very cold climate and when it hits minus 30 nothing starts unless heated when it hits minus 40 even machines that are runninng full time need to be operated very cautiously when it hits minus 50 almost everything comes to a stand still at minus 60 it is at a standstill and nothing moves and I haven't seen minus 70 and 80. I operate a 20 ton excavating machine and when the ground has been frozen by minus 40 degree tempretures the 20 ton machine has a very difficult time breaking the frozen ground. How can a machine with the weight of Phoenix dig in ground that has been frozen by tempretures exceeding minus 8o degrees celsius? How did the solar panels unfurl at minus 40 degrees without breaking? Can someone explain to me how Phoenix can operate at minus 30 to minus 80 degrees celsius? I work in a very cold climate and when it hits minus 30 nothing starts unless heated when it hits minus 40 even machines that are runninng full time need to be operated very cautiously when it hits minus 50 almost everything comes to a stand still at minus 60 it is at a standstill and nothing moves and I haven’t seen minus 70 and 80. I operate a 20 ton excavating machine and when the ground has been frozen by minus 40 degree tempretures the 20 ton machine has a very difficult time breaking the frozen ground. How can a machine with the weight of Phoenix dig in ground that has been frozen by tempretures exceeding minus 8o degrees celsius? How did the solar panels unfurl at minus 40 degrees without breaking?

]]> By: Rick W http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92403 Rick W Wed, 28 May 2008 20:17:02 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92403 Fabulous! These images truly rank as some of the best our space exploration efforts have produced to date (IMHO). From a personal perspective, I still think that the Hubble Deep Field is the most thought provoking and amazing image ever taken by humans. I just happen to have a soft spot for galaxies though! Thanks for your personal insights as well. Fabulous! These images truly rank as some of the best our space exploration efforts have produced to date (IMHO).

From a personal perspective, I still think that the Hubble Deep Field is the most thought provoking and amazing image ever taken by humans. I just happen to have a soft spot for galaxies though!

Thanks for your personal insights as well.

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92402 Irishman Wed, 28 May 2008 18:23:26 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92402 Another random question: Emily posted this in her blog: <blockquote>Phoenix also got a good image of the digging site. There are very few rocks, and it looks like they can reach both the center of a polygon and a trough between two polygons, which is great news. </blockquote> http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001470/ What does that mean? Polygons? Another random question: Emily posted this in her blog:

Phoenix also got a good image of the digging site. There are very few rocks, and it looks like they can reach both the center of a polygon and a trough between two polygons, which is great news.

http://www.planetary.org/blog/article/00001470/

What does that mean? Polygons?

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92401 Irishman Wed, 28 May 2008 18:18:52 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92401 Okay, Phil, the software is having trouble with apostrophes. Okay, Phil, the software is having trouble with apostrophes.

]]> By: Irishman http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92400 Irishman Wed, 28 May 2008 18:18:06 +0000 http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/badastronomy/2008/05/27/hirise-sees-phoenix-sitting-on-mars/#comment-92400 Ala'a said: > Question: I canâ??t help but notice the darkened area around the lander itself. Iâ??m assuming this is due to the actions of the retro-rockets, blowing the top layer of the Martian soil structure - which happens to be icy and light in color - revealing a somewhat darker layer underneath. How is this going to impact the upcoming measurements? Again Iâ??m assuming any residual chemical contaminants from the rockets will be â??subtractedâ?? from the results obtained from the measurements. Some useful info here: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/science.php The plan is to dig down below the existing surface to the soil/water-ice interface. <blockquote>The RA will be 2.35 meters (just under 8 ft) long with an elbow joint in the middle, allowing the arm to trench about 0.5m (1.6ft) below the martian surface, deep enough to where scientists believe the water-ice soil interface lies. </blockquote> The samples will come from areas undisturbed by the retrorockets. Lugosi said: > To expand on <b>Alaâ??a</b>â??s question: How deep will Phoenixâ??s shovel be digging? Is there any anger that the heat from the craftâ??s rockets may have damaged any potential evidence of past lifeâ?¦. Perhaps even sterilized the samples of any <i>existing</i> life? The scientists think the surface is too harsh for any current life - UV rays and oxidizing environment. That is why the want to look under the surface. Ala’a said:
> Question: I canâ??t help but notice the darkened area around the lander itself. Iâ??m assuming this is due to the actions of the retro-rockets, blowing the top layer of the Martian soil structure - which happens to be icy and light in color - revealing a somewhat darker layer underneath. How is this going to impact the upcoming measurements? Again Iâ??m assuming any residual chemical contaminants from the rockets will be â??subtractedâ?? from the results obtained from the measurements.

Some useful info here:
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/science.php

The plan is to dig down below the existing surface to the soil/water-ice interface.

The RA will be 2.35 meters (just under 8 ft) long with an elbow joint in the middle, allowing the arm to trench about 0.5m (1.6ft) below the martian surface, deep enough to where scientists believe the water-ice soil interface lies.

The samples will come from areas undisturbed by the retrorockets.

Lugosi said:
> To expand on Alaâ??aâ??s question: How deep will Phoenixâ??s shovel be digging? Is there any anger that the heat from the craftâ??s rockets may have damaged any potential evidence of past lifeâ?¦. Perhaps even sterilized the samples of any existing life?

The scientists think the surface is too harsh for any current life - UV rays and oxidizing environment. That is why the want to look under the surface.

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