Phoenix (spacecraft)

This article is about the Mars lander. For other uses, see Phoenix (disambiguation).

Phoenix
Artist's impression of the Phoenix spacecraft as it lands on Mars.
Mission typeStationary lander
Operator
COSPAR ID2007-034A Edit this at Wikidata
SATCAT no.32003
Websitephoenix.lpl.arizona.edu
Mission duration90 martian sols (planned)
157 martian sols (actual)
1 year, 2 months, 29 days (launch to last contact)
Spacecraft properties
ManufacturerLockheed Martin Space Systems
Launch mass670 kg (1,477 lb.)[1]
Landing mass350 kg (770 lb)
Power450W, Solar array / NiH2 battery
Start of mission
Launch dateAugust 4, 2007 (2007-08-04) 09:26 UTC[2]
(17 years, 3 months and 7 days ago)
RocketDelta II 7925
Launch siteCape Canaveral SLC-17
ContractorLockheed Martin Space Systems
End of mission
DeclaredMay 24, 2010
Last contactNovember 2, 2008 (2008-11-02)
(16 years and 9 days ago)
Mars lander
Landing dateMay 25, 2008 (2008-05-25) 23:53:44 UTC
MSD 47777 01:02 AMT
MSD 47776 16:35 LMST (Sol 0)
(16 years, 5 months and 14 days ago)
Landing siteGreen Valley, Vastitas Borealis, Mars
68°13′08″N 125°44′57″W / 68.2188°N 125.7492°W / 68.2188; -125.7492 (Phoenix)

Phoenix Mars Lander mission logo
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Phoenix was an uncrewed space probe that landed on the surface of Mars on May 25, 2008, and operated until November 2, 2008.[2] Phoenix was operational on Mars for 157 sols (161 days). Its instruments were used to assess the local habitability and to research the history of water on Mars. The mission was part of the Mars Scout Program; its total cost was $420 million, including the cost of launch.[3]

The multi-agency program was led by the Lunar and Planetary Laboratory at the University of Arizona, with project management by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Academic and industrial partners included universities in the United States, Canada, Switzerland, Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, NASA, the Canadian Space Agency, the Finnish Meteorological Institute, Lockheed Martin Space Systems, MacDonald Dettwiler & Associates (MDA) in partnership with Optech Incorporated (Optech) and other aerospace companies.[4] It was the first NASA mission to Mars led by a public university.[5]

Phoenix was NASA's sixth successful landing on Mars, from seven attempts, and the first in Mars' polar region. The lander completed its mission in August 2008, and made a last brief communication with Earth on November 2 as available solar power dropped with the Martian winter. The mission was declared concluded on November 10, 2008, after engineers were unable to re-contact the craft.[6] After unsuccessful attempts to contact the lander by the Mars Odyssey orbiter up to and past the Martian summer solstice on May 12, 2010, JPL declared the lander to be dead. The program was considered a success because it completed all planned science experiments and observations.[7]

  1. ^ "Phoenix Launch Mission to the Martian Polar North" (PDF). NASA (published August 2007). July 5, 2007. Archived (PDF) from the original on January 22, 2023. Retrieved December 6, 2018.
  2. ^ a b Nelson, Jon (ed.). "Phoenix". Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Archived from the original on February 19, 2014. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  3. ^ "The Cost of NASA's Phoenix Mission to Mars". The Planetary Society. Archived from the original on September 25, 2023. Retrieved December 2, 2020.
  4. ^ Webster, Guy; Brown, Dwayne (May 25, 2008). "NASA's Phoenix Spacecraft Reports Good Health After Mars Landing" (Press release). Pasadena, Ca.: Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 2008-82. Archived from the original on January 10, 2024. Retrieved May 26, 2008.
  5. ^ Peter Smith (2008). "Snow On Mars!". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 17, 2008.
  6. ^ Amos, Jonathan (November 10, 2008). "Probe ends historic Mars mission". BBC News. Archived from the original on January 23, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2008.
  7. ^ Ian O'Neill (May 17, 2010). "Dear Phoenix lander, will you raise from the dead?". Discovery. Archived from the original on May 20, 2010.