[X] My Assistant

[tty]

Since there might be up to four functioning orbiters around Mars when Phoenix lands it seems that there would be a good chance that one or more of them might have the landing site in view. A plasma trail should be fairly easy to see particularly at night. The location should be known within a few tens of kilometers and the time to within a second or two.

tty

[Deimos]

Since there might be up to four functioning orbiters around Mars when Phoenix lands it seems that there would be a good chance that one or more of them might have the landing site in view. A plasma trail should be fairly easy to see particularly at night.

It will be very difficult to see at night, mostly because Phoenix will be landing in the afternoon . But there should be better than a good chance an orbiter will have line of sight to Phoenix during EDL, since that is a requirement. However, I don't know whether imaging is consistent with the required UHF listening (that may depend on which orbiter).

[mcaplinger]

It will be very difficult to see at night, mostly because Phoenix will be landing in the afternoon . But there should be better than a good chance an orbiter will have line of sight to Phoenix during EDL...

I hope Phoenix lands in the daytime; I could quit working on MARDI/PHX if it doesn't.

We tried imaging the entries of both MERs using the MOC WA, and didn't see anything definitive.

[Guest_3488_*]

Mars Phoenix Lander will land during daylight, late afternoon.

The potential landing sites are all north of the Martian Arctic Circle.

Mid Summer Solstice on Mars will be on 24th June 2008, just three days after that on Earth (a strange co-incidence).

Mars Phoenix Lander hopefully will take time lapse images of the Martian Midnight Sun!!!

Andrew Brown.

[nprev]

I think there's some potential for functional, if not 'mobile' Rovers come '07. I certianly think they'll last thru to MRO's science orbit, and as such could do simultanious observations out and into the atmosphere.

But that's a long way away, and a hell of a lot could go wrong between then and now, I wouldnt put money on it, but I wouldnt be suprised.

Doug

Well, since this thread got resurrected however briefly, thought it might be fun to see Doug's prophetic words from a year and a half ago...let the good times roll!!!

[edstrick]

regarding imaging of Phoenix's entry... Most cameras in orbit at mars are not framing type imaging sensors. The experimental navigation cam on MRO is, and the little engineering cam on Mars Express that imaged Beagle as it separated, but that's about it.

[djellison]

Doesn't stop you doing a nodding-spacecraft manouver to try and grab one with a push broom (i.e. MOC WA for MER etc) - I wonder if CTX could have a go this time around...spacecraft geometry is probably the limiting factor.

Doug

[climber]

Emily confirms that there's a microphone attached with Mardi. I wonder if it can be used once on the ground even if Mardi itself will be of no use?

BTW, the landing day, May 25th 2008 is NOT a Mardi, it's a Dimanche instead

[mcaplinger]

Emily confirms that there's a microphone attached with Mardi. I wonder if it can be used once on the ground even if Mardi itself will be of no use?

There's a picture of the microphone at http://www.msss.com/phoenix/mardi/index.html so I don't think it was a big secret.

MARDI can take perfectly good images of the surface from the height of the landing legs (and I think this might even be an area that the SSI and RAC can't see) and the microphone would work post-landing, but there are no plans to operate MARDI then. Recall that the PHX mission has a limited duration and the other instruments use up most if not all of its lifetime.

[lyford]

MARDI can take perfectly good images of the surface from the height of the landing legs

Would this return any interesting data in terms of the exhaust pattern from the engines? IIRC there was some question about the extent the soil disturbance from landing...

And nice picture!*


*Swiss Army Knife not included.

[elakdawalla]

There's a picture of the microphone at http://www.msss.com/phoenix/mardi/index.html so I don't think it was a big secret.

Nope, it certainly wasn't a secret; in fact most of my information came from the mission press kit, which was posted on Monday.

Cool that MARDI could be used to take a photo of what's under the lander! I'm not sure what value that would have -- but it would be cool.

--Emily

[ElkGroveDan]

There's a picture of the microphone at http://www.msss.com/phoenix/mardi/index.html so I don't think it was a big secret.

No, but the apparent engineering collaboration between MSSS and the Swiss Army is certainly news.

[Gsnorgathon]

...
Cool that MARDI could be used to take a photo of what's under the lander! I'm not sure what value that would have -- but it would be cool.

--Emily

Well, it might make polar-projected images of the landing site a bit more complete - no more black hole right in the middle!

[climber]

Thanks for the answers all, but my question was about the use of the microphone once on the ground. Any infos ?

[mcaplinger]

Thanks for the answers all, but my question was about the use of the microphone once on the ground. Any infos ?

I answered that: it would work but there are no plans to operate MARDI post-landing.