Phoenix - The First Mars Scout Mission (A Midterm Report)
- Paper number
IAC-06-A3.3.02
- Author
Mr. Robert Shotwell, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, United States
- Year
2006
- Abstract
As the first of the new Mars Scouts missions, the Phoenix project was selected by NASA in August of 2003. Over its initial 30 months, the project has completed its advertised formulation phase activities, and has recently been approved for continuation to formulation, culminating in a launch planned for August 3, 2007. The Mars Scouts missions are Principle Investigator (PI) led, lower cost missions, intended to be responsive to previous discoveries of the Mars Program. Mr. Peter Smith from the University of Arizona is the PI for Phoenix.
Phoenix “Follows the water” responding directly to the recently published data from Dr. William Boynton, PI (and Phoenix co-I) of the Mars Odyssey Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS). GRS data indicate extremely large quantities of water ice (up to 50
Phoenix has four primary science objectives:
1) Determine the polar climate and weather, interaction with the surface, and composition of the lower atmosphere around 70° N for at least 90 sols focusing on water, ice, dust, noble gases, and CO2. Determine the atmospheric characteristics during descent through the atmosphere.
2) Characterize the geomorphology and active processes shaping the northern plains and the physical properties of the near surface regolith focusing on the role of water.
3) Determine the aqueous mineralogy and chemistry as well as the adsorbed gases and organic content of the regolith. Verify the Odyssey discovery of near-surface ice.
4) Characterize the history of water, ice, and the polar climate. Determine the past and present biological potential of the surface and subsurface environments.
This paper will cover the mission design, progress made in the formulation phases, key system trades, future plans and challenges
- Abstract document
- Manuscript document
IAC-06-A3.3.02.pdf (🔒 authorized access only).
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