SFS News: Partially Opened Oven on Phoenix

Klaus Schmidt · Posted on: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:25 pm

(NASA) - This view from the Robotic Arm Camera on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows partial opening of doors to one of the tiny ovens of the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer.

Each oven has a pair of spring-loaded doors. Near the center of the image, the partial opening of a pair of doors reveals screen over the opening where a soil sample will be delivered. The door to the right is fully opened and the one to the left is partially deployed. The doors are 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. The opening is 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) wide.

Tests on the Phoenix testbed at the University of Arizona, Tucson, indicate that a soil sample could be delivered into the oven through the partially opened doors. Engineers are also exploring possibilities for opening the doors more completely.

This image was taken during Phoenix's eighth Martian day, or sol (June 2, 2008).

The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver.

NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona

Feel free to discuss this article in this topic.

Author	Message
Klaus Schmidt Space Station Commander Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:55 pm Posts: 506 Location: Germany	SFS News: Partially Opened Oven on Phoenix Posted on: Wed Jun 04, 2008 4:25 pm (NASA) - This view from the Robotic Arm Camera on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows partial opening of doors to one of the tiny ovens of the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer. Each oven has a pair of spring-loaded doors. Near the center of the image, the partial opening of a pair of doors reveals screen over the opening where a soil sample will be delivered. The door to the right is fully opened and the one to the left is partially deployed. The doors are 10 centimeters (4 inches) long. The opening is 4 centimeters (1.5 inches) wide. Tests on the Phoenix testbed at the University of Arizona, Tucson, indicate that a soil sample could be delivered into the oven through the partially opened doors. Engineers are also exploring possibilities for opening the doors more completely. This image was taken during Phoenix's eighth Martian day, or sol (June 2, 2008). The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver. NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona Feel free to discuss this article in this topic.
Back to top

coal_burner Launch Director Joined: Mon Jun 12, 2006 2:15 pm Posts: 16 Location: detroit,mi	possible fix? Posted on: Thu Jun 05, 2008 1:12 pm since the robotic arm was designed to dump soil samples into the oven, couldn't they just use the arm to give the oven door a couple of nudges to free it up?
Back to top

Klaus Schmidt Space Station Commander Joined: Wed Dec 08, 2004 12:55 pm Posts: 506 Location: Germany	Posted on: Thu Jun 05, 2008 4:31 pm I'm not sure if that might damage the cover? What if one door slides into the oven? _________________ "The hardest hurdle to space isn't the technicalities and money. But rather, the courage and the will to do it." - Burt Rutan.
Back to top
Display posts from previous: Sort by