The Angry Beaver
Posts: 3,543 
Location: Atlantic Canada
Location: Atlantic Canada
May 28th, 2008, 10:31 AM
The Phoenix spacecraft and the Canadian components: the Lidar and the MET mast thermometers.
The Canadian Lidar instrument in operation.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0528?hub=World
This NASA image was taken by the Phoenix on its second sol, or Mars day, May 27, 2008.
The Phoenix spacecraft and the Canadian components: the Lidar and the MET mast thermometers.
The Canadian Lidar instrument in operation.
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNew...0528?hub=World
Quote:
The first-ever Mars weather report has been beamed back to Earth thanks to cutting-edge Canadian technology.
The weather was chilly, at least by Earth's standards, with a high of -30 C and a frigid low of -80 C on Tuesday.
The weather bulletin was sent by the shoebox-sized Canadian weather station aboard the Phoenix Mars Lander, which touched down Sunday after a 10-month journey.
The data sent by the $37-million device was the first of its kind. In addition to temperature, it recorded winds of an estimated 20 kilometres per hour from the northeast, and pressure of 8.5 millibars, or about one-100th of Earth's pressure at sea-level.
Weather-tracking instruments were turned on shortly after the Phoenix-Mars lander reached its destination, Jim Whiteway, a York University professor and the head of the Canadian mission told The Canadian Press.
He said the Canadian team will spend three months analyzing data beamed back from the box to help in the search for evidence of water on the Red Planet.
The technology includes a so-called lidar instrument that will allow Canadian scientists to study dust and clouds in the Mars atmosphere within a 20-kilometre radius of the planet.
The lidar -- an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging -- will send a beam into the atmosphere that will scatter particles and be reflected back to sensors in the weather station, giving scientists an idea of how Martian weather works.
"We are actually contributing quite a significant chunk to the mission," Tim Cole, spokesperson for the Canada Science and Technology Museum, told CTV Newsnet Monday afternoon.
He added that Phoenix's lidar instrument is "going to give us an indication of how the atmosphere is put together, what's in the atmosphere, (and information about) cloud formation."
The weather was chilly, at least by Earth's standards, with a high of -30 C and a frigid low of -80 C on Tuesday.
The weather bulletin was sent by the shoebox-sized Canadian weather station aboard the Phoenix Mars Lander, which touched down Sunday after a 10-month journey.
The data sent by the $37-million device was the first of its kind. In addition to temperature, it recorded winds of an estimated 20 kilometres per hour from the northeast, and pressure of 8.5 millibars, or about one-100th of Earth's pressure at sea-level.
Weather-tracking instruments were turned on shortly after the Phoenix-Mars lander reached its destination, Jim Whiteway, a York University professor and the head of the Canadian mission told The Canadian Press.
He said the Canadian team will spend three months analyzing data beamed back from the box to help in the search for evidence of water on the Red Planet.
The technology includes a so-called lidar instrument that will allow Canadian scientists to study dust and clouds in the Mars atmosphere within a 20-kilometre radius of the planet.
The lidar -- an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging -- will send a beam into the atmosphere that will scatter particles and be reflected back to sensors in the weather station, giving scientists an idea of how Martian weather works.
"We are actually contributing quite a significant chunk to the mission," Tim Cole, spokesperson for the Canada Science and Technology Museum, told CTV Newsnet Monday afternoon.
He added that Phoenix's lidar instrument is "going to give us an indication of how the atmosphere is put together, what's in the atmosphere, (and information about) cloud formation."
This NASA image was taken by the Phoenix on its second sol, or Mars day, May 27, 2008.
Executive Member
Posts: 9,137
May 28th, 2008, 11:51 AM
Eagle
They planned to paint a small Maple leaf on the rain gauge but left it off due to weight considerations...
Seriously, this is a great mission all around. There have been fifteen attempted landings on Mars and only five have been successful. Be easier if Mars had a decent atmosphere.
Eagle
They planned to paint a small Maple leaf on the rain gauge but left it off due to weight considerations...
Seriously, this is a great mission all around. There have been fifteen attempted landings on Mars and only five have been successful. Be easier if Mars had a decent atmosphere.
The Angry Beaver
Posts: 3,543
Location: Atlantic Canada
Location: Atlantic Canada
May 28th, 2008, 12:56 PM
Quoting I think not
Soon there'll be a MacDonald's on Mars and they'll be selling Double McMars Burgers and McMars Bars.
Them evil space companies and their corporate profits are taking over Mars!
House Member
Posts: 3,145
Location: USA
Location: USA
May 28th, 2008, 03:13 PM
I want to see pics of the EU Beagle to find out what happened to it. I would imagine it looks like a plane wreck.
Quoting #juan
LMAO
Eagle
They planned to paint a small Maple leaf on the rain gauge but left it off due to weight considerations...
They planned to paint a small Maple leaf on the rain gauge but left it off due to weight considerations...
Quote:
Mars landings are always pretty interesting. And you're right, Mars is so cold. Pictures are so deceiving because we Earthlings picture cold weather with storms and snow. Up there it is just plain bitter coldness. 20 degrees F at the equator in the summer and that is about as warm as it gets.
Seriously, this is a great mission all around. There have been fifteen attempted landings on Mars and only five have been successful. Be easier if Mars had a decent atmosphere.
I want to see pics of the EU Beagle to find out what happened to it. I would imagine it looks like a plane wreck.
Hall of Fame Member
Posts: 10,495
Location: The Evil Empire
Location: The Evil Empire
May 28th, 2008, 03:17 PM
On a more serious note, it's great thing what can be accomplished when countries work together on things like this, or anything else for that matter.
Quoting Praxius
Actually kidding aside, I wouldn't doubt it.
Soon there'll be a MacDonald's on Mars and they'll be selling Double McMars Burgers and McMars Bars.
On a more serious note, it's great thing what can be accomplished when countries work together on things like this, or anything else for that matter.
