NASA Mars 2007 Phoenix Lander Robotic Arm and Icy Soil Acquisition Device

Bonitz, R.G.; Shiraishi, Lori; Robinson, Matthew L.; Arvidson, R. E.; Chu, Philip; Wilson, J.; Davis, K.; Paulsen, G.; Kusack, A.; Archer, D.; Smith, Peter H.

doi:10.1029/2007je003030

Cited by 56 publications

(33 citation statements)

References 11 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…TEGA will search for organic compounds that may have been preserved under the very cold conditions inherent to these latitudes, allowing characterization of the extent to which shallow subsurface deposits in the near‐polar regions were or are habitable. Other important measurements will focus on (1) analysis of the geomorphology of the landing site using the mast‐based Stereo Surface Imaging (SSI) system and Robotic Arm Camera (RAC) (M. T. Lemmon et al, The Phoenix Surface Stereo Imager Investigation, manuscript in preparation, 2008; H. U. Keller et al, The Phoenix Robotic Arm Camera, manuscript in preparation, 2008), (2) determination of soil and icy soil mechanical properties using the imaging systems combined with the Robotic Arm (RA) and associated Icy Soil Acquisition Device (ISAD) [ Bonitz et al , 2008], (3) determination of icy soil thermal and electrical properties using the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) (A. P. Zent et al, The Thermal Electrical Conductivity Probe for Phoenix, submitted to Journal of Geophysical Research , 2008), and (4) characterization of the atmosphere by conducting imaging, meteorological, and lidar observations [e.g., Taylor et al , 2008; Whiteway et al , 2008; Lemmon et al, manuscript in preparation, 2008].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix landing site selection and characteristics

Arvidson¹,

Adams

Bonfiglio

et al. 2008

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] To ensure a successful touchdown and subsequent surface operations, the Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix Lander must land within 65°to 72°north latitude, at an elevation less than À3.5 km. The landing site must have relatively low wind velocities and rock and slope distributions similar to or more benign than those found at the Viking Lander 2 site. Also, the site must have a soil cover of at least several centimeters over ice or icy soil to meet science objectives of evaluating the environmental and habitability implications of past and current near-polar environments. The most challenging aspects of site selection were the extensive rock fields associated with crater rims and ejecta deposits and the centers of polygons associated with patterned ground. An extensive acquisition campaign of Odyssey Thermal Emission Imaging Spectrometer predawn thermal IR images, together with $0.31 m/pixel Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment images was implemented to find regions with acceptable rock populations and to support Monte Carlo landing simulations. The chosen site is located at 68.16°north latitude, 233.35°east longitude (areocentric), within a $50 km wide (N-S) by $300 km long (E-W) valley of relatively rock-free plains. Surfaces within the eastern portion of the valley are differentially eroded ejecta deposits from the relatively recent $10-km-wide Heimdall crater and have fewer rocks than plains on the western portion of the valley. All surfaces exhibit polygonal ground, which is associated with fracture of icy soils, and are predicted to have only several centimeters of poorly sorted basaltic sand and dust over icy soil deposits.

show abstract

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix landing site selection and characteristics

Arvidson¹,

Adams

Bonfiglio

et al. 2008

J. Geophys. Res.

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Phoenix will land near 68°N latitude on polygonal terrain presumably created by ice layers that are expected to be a few centimeters under loose soil materials [ Arvidson et al , 2008; Mellon et al , 2008]. The payload of the stationary lander consists of the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA: W. V. Boynton et al, Phoenix thermal and evolved gas analyzer, manuscript in preparation, 2008), Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA, Hecht et al [2008]), Robotic Arm (RA, Bonitz et al [2008]), Robotic Arm Camera (RAC, Keller et al [2008]), Stereo Surface Imager (SSI: Lemmon et al, Phoenix Surface Stereo Imager investigation, manuscript in preparation, 2008), Meteorological Station (MET, Taylor et al [2008]), and Mars Descent Imager (MARDI, Malin et al [2001]).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Mars 2007 Phoenix Scout mission Organic Free Blank: Method to distinguish Mars organics from terrestrial organics

et al. 2008

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The Organic Free Blank (OFB) for the Mars 2007 Phoenix Scout mission provides an organic carbon null sample to compare against possible Martian organic signatures obtained by the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA). Major OFB requirements are an organic carbon content of ≤10 ng C g−1 of sample, a nonporous structure, and strength and integrity that permits machining by the Robotic Arm (RA) Icy Soil Acquisition Device (ISAD). A specially fabricated form of commercial Macor™ (a machinable glass ceramic), made with nitrate salts replacing carbonate salts, was selected as the OFB material. The OFB has a total inorganic carbon content of approximately 1.6 μg C g−1 after fabrication, cleaning, and heat treatment in oxygen gas at 550°C. The detection limit for organic carbon is ∼100 ng C g−1 of sample, or about a factor of 10 higher than the design goal. One scenario for OFB use on Mars is subsequent to the first TEGA detection of organic carbon. The OFB sample, acquired by the RA ISAD and delivered to TEGA, would come in contact with all surfaces in the sample transfer chain, collecting residual terrestrial contamination that accompanied the spacecraft to Mars. A second sample of the putative Martian organic‐bearing material would then be obtained and analyzed by TEGA. Different organic contents and/or different mass spectrometer fragmentation patterns between the OFB material and the two Martian samples would indicate that the detected organic carbon is indigenous to Mars.

show abstract

“…4, mounted at the end of an arm (Bonitz et al, 2007). To aid in acquiring icy samples from the frozen regolith of northern martian plains, the ISAD possesses a number of features, including a small rasp-style cutting bit, which will plunge into the icy soil while rotating at high speed.…”

Section: Past Present and Future Extraterrestrial Drillsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drilling Systems for Extraterrestrial Subsurface Exploration

et al. 2008

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Drilling consists of 2 processes: breaking the formation with a bit and removing the drilled cuttings. In rotary drilling, rotational speed and weight on bit are used to control drilling, and the optimization of these parameters can markedly improve drilling performance. Although fluids are used for cuttings removal in terrestrial drilling, most planetary drilling systems conduct dry drilling with an auger. Chip removal via water-ice sublimation (when excavating water-ice-bound formations at pressure below the triple point of water) and pneumatic systems are also possible. Pneumatic systems use the gas or vaporization products of a high-density liquid brought from Earth, gas provided by an in situ compressor, or combustion products of a monopropellant. Drill bits can be divided into coring bits, which excavate an annular shaped hole, and full-faced bits. While cylindrical cores are generally superior as scientific samples, and coring drills have better performance characteristics, full-faced bits are simpler systems because the handling of a core requires a very complex robotic mechanism. The greatest constraints to extraterrestrial drilling are (1) the extreme environmental conditions, such as temperature, dust, and pressure; (2) the light-time communications delay, which necessitates highly autonomous systems; and (3) the mission and science constraints, such as mass and power budgets and the types of drilled samples needed for scientific analysis. A classification scheme based on drilling depth is proposed. Each of the 4 depth categories (surface drills, 1-meter class drills, 10-meter class drills, and deep drills) has distinct technological profiles and scientific ramifications.

show abstract

NASA Mars 2007 Phoenix Lander Robotic Arm and Icy Soil Acquisition Device

Cited by 56 publications

References 11 publications

Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix landing site selection and characteristics

Mars Exploration Program 2007 Phoenix landing site selection and characteristics

Mars 2007 Phoenix Scout mission Organic Free Blank: Method to distinguish Mars organics from terrestrial organics

Drilling Systems for Extraterrestrial Subsurface Exploration

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About