This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/sci/tech/7411113.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
Version 0 | Version 1 |
---|---|
Mars probe set for risky landing | Mars probe set for risky landing |
(10 minutes later) | |
An American spacecraft is about to attempt a perilous landing on the surface of Mars. | An American spacecraft is about to attempt a perilous landing on the surface of Mars. |
Nasa's Phoenix lander is due to touch down on Monday in the far north of the Red Planet, after a 423-million-mile journey from Earth. | Nasa's Phoenix lander is due to touch down on Monday in the far north of the Red Planet, after a 423-million-mile journey from Earth. |
The probe is equipped with a robotic arm to dig for water ice thought to be buried beneath the surface. | The probe is equipped with a robotic arm to dig for water ice thought to be buried beneath the surface. |
Scientists say the mission should give the clearest indication yet of whether Mars could once have harboured life. | Scientists say the mission should give the clearest indication yet of whether Mars could once have harboured life. |
The final seven minutes of the probe's ten-month journey is regarded as the riskiest part of the mission. | The final seven minutes of the probe's ten-month journey is regarded as the riskiest part of the mission. |
The main goal of the mission is to get below the surface of Mars to where we are almost certain there is water Dr Tom Pike class="" href="/1/hi/sci/tech/7408033.stm">Phoenix Diary: Mission to Mars | |
After it enters the top of the Martian atmosphere at nearly 5.7km/s (13,000 mph), the probe must perform a series of manoeuvres to come safely to rest. | After it enters the top of the Martian atmosphere at nearly 5.7km/s (13,000 mph), the probe must perform a series of manoeuvres to come safely to rest. |
It will release a parachute, use pulsed thrusters to slow to a fast walking speed, then come to a halt on three legs. | It will release a parachute, use pulsed thrusters to slow to a fast walking speed, then come to a halt on three legs. |
If all goes to plan, the Phoenix lander will reach the surface of Mars at 0053 BST (1953 EDT) on 26 May. | If all goes to plan, the Phoenix lander will reach the surface of Mars at 0053 BST (1953 EDT) on 26 May. |
Nasa controllers will know in about 15 minutes whether the attempt has been successful. | Nasa controllers will know in about 15 minutes whether the attempt has been successful. |
Phoenix will land further north than previous missions | Phoenix will land further north than previous missions |
David Catling from the University of Bristol is a co-investigator on the mission. He said the landing phase would be one of the most exciting and tense parts of the journey, with so much riding on Phoenix's safe descent. | David Catling from the University of Bristol is a co-investigator on the mission. He said the landing phase would be one of the most exciting and tense parts of the journey, with so much riding on Phoenix's safe descent. |
"Everyone involved is on tenterhooks and eager to start this unique exploration," he said. | "Everyone involved is on tenterhooks and eager to start this unique exploration," he said. |
If all goes to plan, Phoenix will begin a three-month mission to search for ice beneath the Martian surface. | If all goes to plan, Phoenix will begin a three-month mission to search for ice beneath the Martian surface. |
It will use a robotic arm to dig through the protective topsoil layer and lift samples of both soil and ice to its deck for scientific analysis. | It will use a robotic arm to dig through the protective topsoil layer and lift samples of both soil and ice to its deck for scientific analysis. |
Building blocks | Building blocks |
Dr Tom Pike of Imperial College, London, is part of the British team involved in the project. | Dr Tom Pike of Imperial College, London, is part of the British team involved in the project. |
"The main goal of the mission is to get below the surface of Mars to where we are almost certain there is water," he told BBC News. | "The main goal of the mission is to get below the surface of Mars to where we are almost certain there is water," he told BBC News. |
"The orbiters that are around Mars have already surveyed in great detail the area in which we are landing and we know that there is ice - solid water - 10cm, or maybe even less, below the surface. | "The orbiters that are around Mars have already surveyed in great detail the area in which we are landing and we know that there is ice - solid water - 10cm, or maybe even less, below the surface. |
"Water, of course, is of critical importance because it is one of the building blocks - one of the essential habitats we need - for life." | "Water, of course, is of critical importance because it is one of the building blocks - one of the essential habitats we need - for life." |
Landing on Mars is a notoriously tricky business. Of the 11 missions that have tried to land probes on Mars since 1971 - only five have succeeded. | Landing on Mars is a notoriously tricky business. Of the 11 missions that have tried to land probes on Mars since 1971 - only five have succeeded. |
Phoenix carries seven science instruments | Phoenix carries seven science instruments |
Phoenix is an apt name for the current mission, as it rose from the ashes of two previous failures. | Phoenix is an apt name for the current mission, as it rose from the ashes of two previous failures. |
In September 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft crashed into the Red Planet following a navigation error caused when technicians mixed up "English" (imperial) and metric units. | In September 1999, the Mars Climate Orbiter spacecraft crashed into the Red Planet following a navigation error caused when technicians mixed up "English" (imperial) and metric units. |
A few months later, another Nasa spacecraft, the Mars Polar Lander (MPL), was lost near the planet's South Pole. | A few months later, another Nasa spacecraft, the Mars Polar Lander (MPL), was lost near the planet's South Pole. |
Phoenix uses hardware from an identical twin of MPL, the Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander, which was cancelled following the two consecutive failures. | Phoenix uses hardware from an identical twin of MPL, the Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander, which was cancelled following the two consecutive failures. |
The probe was launched on 4 August 2007 on a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. | The probe was launched on 4 August 2007 on a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. |