 |
Phoenix Mars Lander in Testing - NASA's next Mars-bound spacecraft, the Phoenix Mars Lander, was partway through assembly and testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, in September 2006, progressing toward an August 2007 launch from Florida. In this photograph, spacecraft specialists work on the lander after its fan-like circular solar arrays have been spread open for testing. The arrays will be in this configuration when the spacecraft is active on the surface of Mars. High Resolution
|
 |
Phoenix Mars Lander in Testing - NASA's next Mars-bound spacecraft, the Phoenix Mars Lander, was partway through assembly and testing at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, in September 2006, progressing toward an August 2007 launch from Florida. In this photograph, spacecraft specialists work on the lander after its fan-like circular solar arrays have been spread open for testing. The arrays will be in this configuration when the spacecraft is active on the surface of Mars. High Resolution
|
 |
Phoenix Loaded onto C-17 for Shipping to KSC - Tim Welton (left) and Chris McCaa, both from Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company, help guide the Phoenix lander shipping container onto the ramp of the C-17. The large, white container was built specifically around the interior dimensions of the C-17. Phoenix was delivered from Denver, Colo. to NASA’s Kennedy Space Center on May 7, 2007. More than 50 people from many different organizations were involved in the transport. High Resolution
|
 |
Phoenix Loaded onto C-17 for Shipping to KSC - On May 7, 2007, Lockheed Martin Space Systems shipped NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander from Denver, Colo. to Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The spacecraft was packed in a 9,600 pound environmentally-controlled, nitrogen-purged container designed specifically to transport spacecraft onboard a C-17. High Resolution
|
 |
Environmental Testing in Landed Configuration - Inside a thermal vacuum chamber at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, technicians examine NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander after it had completed an environment test. The spacecraft’s science instruments and robotic arm are shown as is one of the two solar arrays. High Resolution
|
 |
Environmental Testing in Landed Configuration -Technicians from Lockheed Martin examine the Phoenix Mars Lander after it was subjected to extreme temperature and atmospheric conditions similar to what it will experience on the surface of Mars. Part of a ‘test like you fly’ regiment, the spacecraft underwent extensive environmental testing in multiple configurations to confirm Phoenix will perform in the harsh conditions it will see over the life of its mission. High Resolution
|
|
|
Inside the Phoenix backshell - A Lockheed Martin technician works on wiring inside the backshell that will be used to protect NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander. During the 9 -month cruise period and decent through the Martian atmosphere, the aeroshell system – which includes the backshell – protects the Phoenix spacecraft from the harsh environmental conditions it encounters. High Resolution
|
|
Work on Phoenix Science Deck - Lockheed Martin Space Systems technicians Jim Young (left) and Jack Farmerie (right) work on the science deck of NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander. The spacecraft was built in a 100,000-class clean room near Denver under NASA’s planetary protection practices to keep organics from being taken to Mars. The lander’s robotic arm, built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, is seen at the top of the picture. The color and grey dots will be used to calibrate the spacecraft’s Surface Stereoscopic Imager camera once the spacecraft has landed on the red planet. High Resolution
|
|
|
Science Deck of the Phoenix Spacecraft #1 - The Phoenix Mars Lander was in a landed configuration while Lockheed Martin technicians prepared it for testing. The primary instruments are all visible including TEGA, MECA, robotic arm, Meteorological Station, Meteorological Station mast, and Surface Stereoscopic Imager. High Resolution
|
|
|
Science Deck of the Phoenix Spacecraft #2 - The Phoenix Mars Lander was in a landed configuration while Lockheed Martin technicians prepared it for testing. The primary instruments are all visible including TEGA, MECA, robotic arm, Meteorological Station, Meteorological Station mast, and Surface Stereoscopic Imager. High Resolution
|
|
|
Robotic Arm and MET Mast - The Phoenix lander’s robotic arm and Meteorological Station mast stand erected as technicians work on the science deck of the spacecraft. High Resolution
|
|
Phoenix Robotic Arm - A vital instrument on NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander is the robotic arm that will dig into the icy soil and bring samples back to the science deck of the spacecraft for analysis. In September 2006 at a Lockheed Martin Space Systems clean room facility near Denver, spacecraft technician Billy Jones inspects the arm during the assembly phase of the mission. Using the robotic arm – built by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena – the Phoenix mission will study the history of water and search for complex organic molecules in the ice-rich soil. High Resolution
|
|
|
Phoenix Hoist into Thermal Vacuum - A Lockheed Martin technician looks on as the Phoenix Mars Lander was hoisted into a thermal vacuum chamber to undergo environmental testing. High Resolution
|
|
|
Preparing to Lift Phoenix - Lockheed Martin technicians prepare Phoenix prior to lifting it into a thermal vacuum chamber where it underwent environmental testing. High Resolution
|
|
Team Huddle Before Lifting Phoenix into Test Chamber - Spacecraft specialists huddle to discuss the critical lift of NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander into a thermal vacuum chamber. In December 2006, the spacecraft was in a cruse configuration prior to going into environmental testing at a Lockheed Martin Space Systems facility near Denver. At all stages of assembly and testing, the spacecraft is handled with extreme care and refinement. High Resolution |
|
|
Phoenix Lowered into Thermal Vacuum Chamber - The Phoenix Mars Lander shown being lowered into a Lockheed Martin thermal vacuum chamber. While in the chamber, the spacecraft underwent a barrage of testing simulating environmental conditions it will experience on Mars. High Resolution
|
 |
Phoenix in the Thermal Vacuum Chamber - In February 2007 the Phoenix lander underwent extensive environmental testing in a landed configuration. In the thermal vacuum chamber, Phoenix was subjected to the harsh conditions it will see on the surface of the red planet. High Resolution
|
|
Environmental Testing in Thermal Vacuum Chamber - Inside a thermal vacuum at Lockheed Martin Space Systems, Denver, technicians prepare NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander for environmental testing. The Phoenix lander was encapsulated in its aeroshell – that included both the back shell and heat shield – as it was subjected to extreme cold and heat in a vacuum, space-like condition. The spacecraft undergoes extensive environmental testing to confirm Phoenix will perform in the extreme conditions it will see both in entry, decent and landing (EDL), and on the surface of Mars. High Resolution
|
 |
Phoenix with Instruments and Solar Array Deployed # 1 - Technicians from Lockheed Martin, Denver, work on the Phoenix spacecraft, preparing it for its 90-day mission on the surface of Mars. During this period of testing, one of two circular solar arrays was deployed in addition to the robotic arm, Surface Stereoscopic Imager (SSI), Meteorological Station mast and landing legs. High Resolution
|
 |
Phoenix with Instruments and Solar Array Deployed # 2 - Technicians from Lockheed Martin, Denver, work on the Phoenix spacecraft, preparing it for its 90-day mission on the surface of Mars. During this period of testing, one of two circular solar arrays was deployed in addition to the robotic arm, Surface Stereoscopic Imager (SSI), Meteorological Station mast and landing legs. High Resolution
|
|
|
Phoenix with Instruments and Solar Array Deployed # 3 - Technicians from Lockheed Martin, Denver, work on the Phoenix spacecraft, preparing it for its 90-day mission on the surface of Mars. During this period of testing, one of two circular solar arrays was deployed in addition to the robotic arm, Surface Stereoscopic Imager (SSI), Meteorological Station mast and landing legs. High Resolution
|
|
|
Phoenix with Instruments and Solar Array Deployed # 4 - Technicians from Lockheed Martin, Denver, work on the Phoenix spacecraft, preparing it for its 90-day mission on the surface of Mars. During this period of testing, one of two circular solar arrays was deployed in addition to the robotic arm, Surface Stereoscopic Imager (SSI), Meteorological Station mast and landing legs. High Resolution
|
