NASA Logo

NTRS

NTRS - NASA Technical Reports Server

Back to Results
The Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic ArmThe Phoenix Mars Lander Robotic Arm (RA) has operated for over 150 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.
Document ID
20150014801
Acquisition Source
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Document Type
Conference Paper
External Source(s)
Authors
Bonitz, Robert
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Shiraishi, Lori
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Robinson, Matthew
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Carsten, Joseph
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Volpe, Richard
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Trebi-Ollennu, Ashitey
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Arvidson, Raymond E.
(Washington Univ. Saint Louis, MO, United States)
Chu, P. C.
(Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corp New York, NY, United States)
Wilson, J. J.
(Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corp New York, NY, United States)
Davis, K. R.
(Honeybee Robotics Spacecraft Mechanisms Corp New York, NY, United States)
Date Acquired
August 3, 2015
Publication Date
March 7, 2009
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Science And Exploration
Cybernetics, Artificial Intelligence And Robotics
Meeting Information
Meeting: IEEE Aerospace Conference
Location: Big Sky, MT
Country: United States
Start Date: March 7, 2009
End Date: March 14, 2009
Sponsors: Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

Available Downloads

There are no available downloads for this record.
No Preview Available