The Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic Arm

You are here: Homepage > Search

The Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic Arm

Bonitz, Robert / Shiraishi, Lori / Robinson, Matthew / Carsten, Joseph / Volpe, Richard / Trebi-Ollennu, Ashitey / Arvidson, Raymond E. / Chu, P. C. / Wilson, J. J. / Davis, K. R.

Abstract

The Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic Arm (RA) has operated for 149 sols since the Lander touched down on the north polar region of Mars on May 25, 2008. During its mission it has dug numerous trenches in the Martian regolith, acquired samples of Martian dry and icy soil, and delivered them to the Thermal Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA) and the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA). The RA inserted the Thermal and Electrical Conductivity Probe (TECP) into the Martian regolith and positioned it at various heights above the surface for relative humidity measurements. The RA was used to point the Robotic Arm Camera to take images of the surface, trenches, samples within the scoop, and other objects of scientific interest within its workspace. Data from the RA sensors during trenching, scraping, and trench cave-in experiments have been used to infer mechanical properties of the Martian soil. This paper describes the design and operations of the RA as a critical component of the Phoenix Mars Lander necessary to achieve the scientific goals of the mission.

Access

Check access

Check availability in my library

Order at Subito €

Export, share and cite

Document information

Title :

The Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic Arm

Contributors:

Bonitz, Robert (author) / Shiraishi, Lori (author) / Robinson, Matthew (author) / Carsten, Joseph (author) / Volpe, Richard (author) / Trebi-Ollennu, Ashitey (author) / Arvidson, Raymond E. (author) / Chu, P. C. (author) / Wilson, J. J. (author) / Davis, K. R. (author)

Published in:

2009 IEEE Aerospace conference ; 1-12

Publication date :

2009-03-01

Size :

4919157 byte

ISBN :

978-1-4244-2622-5 , 978-1-4244-2621-8

ISSN :

1095-323X

DOI :

https://doi.org/10.1109/AERO.2009.4839306