Phoenix science results, Beginning with December 2008 AGU meeting |
Phoenix science results, Beginning with December 2008 AGU meeting |
Dec 15 2008, 09:22 PM
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Administrator Group: Admin Posts: 5172 Joined: 4-August 05 From: Pasadena, CA, USA, Earth Member No.: 454 |
I figured it was time for a new thread, since we finally seem to be getting some science results out of Phoenix. The press release should be out shortly.
First numerical result I've heard was given by Peter Smith at today's press briefing at AGU: TEGA found that the soil is composed of 5% calcium carbonate, which is a significant result. Hopefully more will hit the Web soon -- post here when the links go up! --Emily -------------------- My website - My Patreon - @elakdawalla on Twitter - Please support unmannedspaceflight.com by donating here.
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Jul 6 2009, 07:42 AM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 237 Joined: 22-December 07 From: Alice Springs, N.T. Australia Member No.: 3989 |
Has anyone read the Phoenix papers published by Peter Smith et al. - in this current issue of Science?
The Abstract: "H2O at the Phoenix Landing Site - The Phoenix mission investigated patterned ground and weather in the northern arctic region of Mars for 5 months starting 25 May 2008 (solar longitude between 76.5° and 148°). A shallow ice table was uncovered by the robotic arm in the center and edge of a nearby polygon at depths of 5 to 18 centimeters. In late summer, snowfall and frost blanketed the surface at night; H2O ice and vapor constantly interacted with the soil. The soil was alkaline (pH = 7.7) and contained CaCO3, aqueous minerals, and salts up to several weight percent in the indurated surface soil. Their formation likely required the presence of water". Snowfall blanketed the surface at night!!!? There's a nonsensational well written article in The Arizona Republic that's worth a quick read on where the Phoenix team are up to - http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/n...3.html#comments "One lingering question Smith hopes to solve with more study of the data is whether carbon-based organic molecules, the chemical building blocks of life, are present in the soil". But the mission is out of money and they will have to get grants to do this. Very worth keeping an eye on. |
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