Orbital photos of water on Mars: Top - A view of the Red Planet showing the Valles Marineris, a canyon that spans 1/3 of the planet. Center - Water-ice appears on the interior of a crater. Bottom - The mysterious "lake" (color enhanced)composed entirely of water-ice.
This coming Sunday, May 25th, we'll be taking another small step toward finding water on our planetary neighbour Mars. Since the landing of Viking in 1976, scientists have been looking for water or water ice on the Martian surface. Recent probes orbiting the planet have found incredible evidence showing water on Mars, a direct analysis of the water-ice has yet to be made. NASA hopes that this time will be the charm as they land Phoenix very close to Mars' noth pole where water-ice exists in abundance. Although the search for evidence of life is closely tied to the discovery of water on Mars, the existence of water will also be important to future missions to the planet as fuel neccessary for return trips. Ice found at the southern pole of the Moon would also serve as propellant for potential manned missions in space.
The following is a press released issued by NASA on May 19th and contains all the important facts about the landing of the Phoenix.
Phoenix Mars Polar Lander
Spacecraft
Launch: August, 2007
Arrival: May 25, 2008
Overview
The Phoenix mission is the first chosen for NASA's Scout program, an initiative for smaller, lower-cost, competed spacecraft. Named for the resilient mythological bird, Phoenix uses a lander that was intended for use by 2001's Mars Surveyor lander prior to its cancellation. It also carries a complex suite of instruments that are improved variations of those that flew on the lost Mars Polar Lander.
In the continuing pursuit of water on Mars, the polar regions are a good place to probe, as water ice is found there. Phoenix will land farther north than any previous mission, at a latitude equivalent to that of northern Alaska. During the course of its three-month mission, Phoenix will dig down to an ice-rich layer that scientists calculate lies within inches of the surface. It will check samples of soil and ice for evidence about whether the site was ever hospitable to life.
To analyze soil samples collected by a robotic arm, Phoenix will carry tiny ovens and a portable laboratory. Selected samples will be heated to release volatiles that can be examined for their chemical composition and other characteristics. One goal is to check whether subsurface samples hold carbon-containing compounds that are essential ingredients of life.
Phoenix's stereo camera, located on its 2-meter (6.6-foot) mast, will use two "eyes" to reveal a high-resolution perspective of the landing site's geology. It will also provide range maps for the team's use in choosing where to dig. Multi-spectral capability will enable the identification of local minerals.
To update our understanding of Martian atmospheric processes, Phoenix will also scan the atmosphere up to 20 kilometers (12.4 miles) in altitude, obtaining data about the formation, duration and movement of clouds, fog, and dust plumes. It will also carry temperature and pressure sensors.
For more information on the Phoenix mission, visit: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu
