Illustration: NASA/JPL-Caltech/UA/Lockheed Martin
Next month, on May 25, NASA's Phoenix Lander will enter the atmosphere of Mars at about 12,750 mph. Once the spacecraft finds itself approaching a distance of 3,000 feet above the Martian surface, the Lander will begin firing its rockets to slow its velocity, until -- assuming all goes well -- its three legs touch down gently on Martian soil at about 5 mph. The landing will complete a voyage of over nine months in length, beginning with the blast-off from Cape Canaveral on August 4, 2007.
The 722-pound Phoenix Lander is scheduled to land in a flat area dubbed "Green Valley," just 20 degrees below the planet's North Pole. NASA believes a sort of "permafrost" exists just below the surface of the valley floor. The Lander has an 8 foot arm that will scoop up samples of frozen water and soil for analysis on-board. The Lander is equipped with a wet chemical laboratory, ovens and microscopes. Phoenix Lander will also serve as a meteorological station, monitoring the arctic atmosphere and local weather conditions.
Scientists hope to determine whether microbes or other forms of life could have existed at one time in the area. Green Valley is considered one of the more promising areas in the Martian arctic zone for finding evidence for the existence of some form of life.
The Phoenix Lander fired its thrusters for 36 seconds a week ago, correcting its trajectory as it approaches its destination. NASA plans two more corrections before the May 25 landing date. The landing will be monitored by three separate satellites already in orbit around Mars: Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter, both launched by NASA, and the Mars Express, launched by Europe. NASA has been repositioning Odyssey to give it the best possible opportunity for observation of the landing.
Pretty exciting stuff, eh? Science fiction coming to life before our very eyes.
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