All New Mars Phoenix Lander Ready to Fly August 3rdNASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, to be launched on a Delta II rocket Aug. 3, will be the focus of a news media opportunity on Tuesday, June 26, at the Kennedy Space Center. #
After a brief orientation, media representatives will be taken inside the clean room at KSC's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility. Phoenix can be observed tucked inside the cruise stage that will carry it to the red planet.
Project management and test team members from NASA, Lockheed
Martin and the University of Arizona will be available for interviews.
The Phoenix spacecraft will land in the arctic region of Mars and attempt to answer questions such as: Can the Martian arctic support life? What is the history of water at the polar landing site? How is the Martian climate affected by polar seasonal change?
To answer these questions, Phoenix uses some of the most sophisticated and advanced technology ever sent to Mars. A robotic arm on the lander will dig through the soil to the water ice layer underneath, and deliver soil and ice samples to the mission's experiments. On the instrument deck are miniature ovens, a mass spectrometer, an atomic force microscope and a "chemistry lab-in-a box" to analyze the samples.
Imaging systems will provide an unprecedented view of Mars. Also included is a weather station.
***Thoughts
Cant wait. Lets hope all goes well, and they land it at Mars South pole. Thats where the Ice deposit is supposed to be 2 miles thick!! Dont believe it?
Its so thick if melted it will cover the whole of Mars in 36 feet of water!! Dont believe that??
Yes it does take some believing. So here is an actual picture of a 'Martian Glacier'thats bigger than Texas
http://themis.asu.edu/discoveries-polarcap
