Results of the Phoenix Mission to Mars and Analog Sites on Earth

Google Tech Talks
October 6, 2008

ABSTRACT

Phoenix landed at 68N in the ice-rich ground on Mars and investigated the chemistry and geology of a polar site on Mars for the first time. The site is particularly interesting for astrobiology because 5 Myr ago the tilt of Mars' axis was 45 and the amount of sunlight reaching the Phoenix site at summer solstice is 2x the present value - Earth like levels. Understanding the microbial activity in high elevation dry permafrost in Antarctica provides a basis for considering habitability conditions on Mars during these periods of higher obliquity.

Speaker: Chris McKay, NASA Ames Research Center
Dr. Christopher P. McKay, Planetary Scientist with the Space Science Division of NASA Ames. Chris received his Ph.D. in AstroGeophysics from the University of Colorado in 1982 and has been a research scientist with the NASA Ames Research Center since that time. His current research focuses on the evolution of the solar system and the origin of life. He is also actively involved in planning for future Mars missions including human settlements. Chris has been involved with polar research since 1980, traveling to the Antarctic dry valleys and more recently to the Siberian and Canadian Arctic to conduct research in these Mars-like environments. Dr. McKay is a recepient of the prestigious Kuiper Award from the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society for his contributions.

This Space Exploration series talk was hosted by Boris Debic.

Category:

Science & Technology

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[STEVEDIGIBOYtv]

Scientists should never use the word obviously.

Perhaps the forming atmosphere and subsequent cloud haze detected by the Canuck LIDAR provided the resistance and lift carrying it further unless angle was tracked and not just calculated.

[live4Cha]

lol Come on! Are looking for Ice or Oil?

Come on my friend be honest :-)

[cogentfellow]

In the basement of some synagogue...

[kpsting]

thats all cool and dandy but where the h.. are results from the two microscopes that Phoenix used, including optical and atomic force microscope!

[lordhuckleberry]

I'm in love!

[joerules22]

fascinating video!

[2013andBeyonD]

The next robot that can do the same experiments as the Viking Landers, the MSL, lands on Mars in the year 2012. Gentlemen, we have a gab of 36 years to answer one of the biggest questions of mankind! This is not the pursuit of science. What we see here is NASA policy.

[2013andBeyonD]

It surprises me how often this man said: We suspected and knew it was there and Phoenix confirmed it.

Maybe its just me but isnt it NASA job, when exploring the solar system, to send probes that discover things instead of confirm things? In 1976 Viking 1 and 2 were the first ever robots to land on Mars and they carried 4 different types of devices that could detect micro organism. The results of those tests are still debated and some even suggests the tests are positive.

[saleall]

tnx but it ain't help. :S its ok. i think i can find it if i just care to check through all the server names. the server i am loking for has those words contained in it. ¤l.rpg-public server## and stuff. ;)

[markocska94]

Very interesting. I watched the whole video.