Phoenix Mars Lander Wet Chemistry Lab (WCL)

Short video produced by iemedia solutions ( http://www.iemedia.co.uk ) with background music by David Inkpen ( http://davidinkpen.co.uk )showing the operation of the Wet Chemistry Laboratory (WCL) which is part of the Microscopy, Electrochemistry, and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA), located on the science deck of the Phoenix lander. The WCL comprises four single-use modules each consisting of a reaction chamber and an actuator assembly. Each module mixes soil samples with a calibration/leaching solution in the reaction chamber for electrochemical analysis by an array of wall mounted ion selective electrodes and electrochemical sensors. The sample loading drawer is extended. One of the reagent flasks is dropped into the reaction chamber previously filled with water from the reservoir tank located on top of the module. A soil sample is deposited by the robotic arm into the funnel above the sample drawer, where a coarse mesh rejects particles larger than 3mm. The soil then falls into the cell of the sample drawer. When the drawer is fully retracted a trap door at the bottom of the sample cell opens deposting the soil into the reaction chamber. The soil sample and reagents are then agitated using the stirrer and measurements taken using the sensors lining the walls of the reaction chamber.

Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Phoenix
• Mars
• Lander
• wcl
• electrochemistry
• NASA
• JPL
• cgi
• 3d
• iemedia
• Phoenix Mars Lander
• wet
• chemistry
• lab
• laboratory