When Phoenix Lands.. |
When Phoenix Lands.. |
Jan 24 2006, 06:05 PM
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#1
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Interplanetary Dumpster Diver Group: Admin Posts: 4404 Joined: 17-February 04 From: Powell, TN Member No.: 33 |
I have been wondering about something....given the performance of the MERs, if one or both survive this winter, is it not conceivable that they could be operational when Phoenix lands? It would, I believe, be the first landing on anything but the moon with other landers (other than parts of the same mission) still operational.
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Apr 9 2008, 07:21 PM
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#2
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Member Group: Members Posts: 279 Joined: 19-August 07 Member No.: 3299 |
Now it is 45 days away from landing on Mars. As the Phoenix spacecraft will be approaching to Mars at the 120,000 km/h and Mars would be traveling around 96,600 km/h and the diferencial speed when Phoenix enters to Martian's atmosphere at around 23,400 km/h. However, this speed is of horizontal vector with respect to the Mars and Phoenix travel path. I don't know about how fast would be Phoenix be traveling around Mars with respect to Mars's orbital speed.
Well, now, I still haven't found any details about the landing Phoenix path on Mars. I am supossing that Mars is orbiting in counter-clockwise. On the other hand, Phoenix will be a little behind of Mars until the the Phoenix with its greater speed pick up the Mars on the top of the atmosphere. As the spacecraft was approaching very slow to Mars and hence will be traveling in clockwise around Mars. The question is: How long will Phoenix be traveling around Mars until its touch down at 68 North and 233 Longitudinal East at 7:36pm Eastern Daylight Time? Then we are going to be holding the cross fingers for others 17 minutes until knowing its first signal beeps!!! P.D. Corrected the speed (km/s -> km/h) thanks to Ugordan! |
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