Spacecraft and Science Instruments

Aboard the deck of the Phoenix spacecraft are a suite of science instruments representing some of the most sophisticated and advanced technology ever sent to Mars. The following fact sheets provide details about the spacecraft and science instruments aboard Phoenix.

The Phoenix Mission inherits a highly capable spacecraft partially built for the Mars Surveyor Program 2001 (MSP'01) More

The RA is critical to the operations of the Phoenix lander and is designed to dig trenches, scoop up soil and water ice samples, and deliver these samples to the TEGA and MECA instruments for detailed chemical and geological analysis. More

MECA is a combination of several scientific instruments including a wet chemistry laboratory, optical and atomic force microscopes, and a thermal and electrical conductivity probe. More Additional information about the MECA Microscopy Sample Stage Configuration can be found here

The RAC is attached to the Robotic Arm (RA) just above the scoop. More

SSI will serve as Phoenix's "eyes" for the mission, providing high-resolution, stereoscopic, panoramic images of the martian arctic. More

TEGA is a combination high-temperature furnace and mass spectrometer instrument that scientists will use to analyze martian ice and soil samples. More

MARDI plays a key science role during Phoenix's descent to the martian arctic. More

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Throughout the course of Phoenix surface operations, MET will record the daily weather of the martian northern plains. More