Phoenix Not Covered With Ice — Yet

Phoenix landing site, Dec. 21, 2008. Credit: NASA/JPL/UA

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The HiRISE Camera on board the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is keeping an eye on the Phoenix lander, and took the above image of the landing site on Dec. 21, 2008. Phoenix, its heatshield, parachute and backshell are still visible on the Martian arctic plains, providing evidence that the spacecraft hasn’t been covered with ice as of yet. Via the HiRISE Blog, scientists say the conditions are hazy and dark because ~~northern winter~~ summer is turning to autumn on Mars. They will keep imaging the site as long as there is enough light to see the lander. Compare this image to previous photos of the Phoenix site, below.

Phoenix and accoutrements from May 2008. Credit: NASA/JPL/UA

This color image was taken just after Phoenix landed in late May 2008. Insets show the backshell, parachute and heatshield.

Phoenix site July 08. Credit: NASA/JPL/UA

In these images, top one taken in July of 2008, and bottom taken in October 2008, you can compare the lighting conditions between late summer and early fall, and now winter (first image) in the northern arctic regions on Mars.

Phoenix September 08. Credit: NASA/JPL/UA

Source: HiRISE Blog, HiRISE site

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy has been with Universe Today since 2004, and has published over 6,000 articles on space exploration, astronomy, science and technology. She is the author of two books: "Eight Years to the Moon: the History of the Apollo Missions," (2019) which shares the stories of 60 engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make landing on the Moon possible; and "Incredible Stories from Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos" (2016) tells the stories of those who work on NASA's robotic missions to explore the Solar System and beyond. Follow Nancy on Twitter at https://twitter.com/Nancy_A and and Instagram at and https://www.instagram.com/nancyatkinson_ut/