Phoenix
-
Phoenix
An artist's concept of the Mars Phoenix lander on the surface of the Red Planet. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
› Larger view
-
Phoenix's La Mancha Trench in 3D
This anaglyph was taken by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's Surface Stereo Imager Oct. 7, 2008. The anaglyph highlights the depth of the trench, informally named 'La Mancha,' and reveals the ice layer beneath the soil surface. 3D glasses are necessary.
› Full image and caption
-
'Snow White' Trench After Scraping (Stereo View)
This view from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows a portion of the trench informally named 'Snow White,' 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.
› Full image and caption
-
Panorama of Phoenix's Solar Panel and Robotic Arm
This panorama image of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's solar panel and the lander's Robotic Arm with a sample in the scoop. The image was taken just before the sample was delivered to the Optical Microscope.
› Full image and caption
-
Martian Surface as Seen by Phoenix
This anaglyph, acquired by NASA's Phoenix Lander's show Phoenix's solar panel is seen in the bottom right corner of the image. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.
› Full image and caption
-
Rock Moved by Mars Lander Arm, Stereo View
The robotic arm on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander slid a rock out of the way on Sept. 22, 2008 to gain access to soil that had been underneath the rock. 3D glasses are necessary to view this image.
› Full image and caption
-
Phoenix Lander on Mars with Surrounding Terrain, Polar Projection
This view is a polar projection that combines more than 500 exposures taken by the Surface Stereo Imager camera on NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander and projects them as if looking down from above.
› Full image and caption
-
Picking up Clues from the Discard Pile (Stereo)
As NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander excavates trenches, it also builds piles with most of the material scooped from the holes. The piles, like this one called 'Caterpillar,' provide researchers some information about the soil. 3D glasses are necessary.
› Full image and caption
-
Ice on Mars—Now You See It
This color image was acquired by the Surface Stereo Imager on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander on the 21st day of the mission, or Sol 20 (June 15, 2008). It shows lumps of ice in the lower left corner of a trench nicknamed 'Dodo-Goldilocks.'
› Full image and caption
Mission Summary
Phoenix was a lander sent to the surface of Mars to search for evidence of past or present microbial life. Using a robotic arm, it could dig up to half a meter into the Red Planet to collect samples and return them to onboard instruments for analysis. Besides verifying the existence of water-ice in the Martian subsurface, Phoenix discovered traces of the chemical perchlorate, a possible energy source for microbes and a potentially valuable future resource for human explorers.
As planned, the Phoenix lander ended communications in November 2008, about six months after landing, when its solar panels ceased operating in the dark Martian winter.
Scientific Instrument(s)
- Surface Stereo Imager (SSI)
- Robotic Arm Camera (RAC)
- Microscopy Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA)
- Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA)
- Meteorological Station (MET)
