QUOTE (stevewinn @ Jun 24 2008, 08:09 AM)
Cheers for the reply MID,
Phoenix takes it time analysing the samples doesn't it, i thought we'd have results back by now, these missions take too bloody long, we should be in and out like the SAS.
You're welcome, steve..
You know it takes a while to actually do the testing on board a lander that's 35-40 million miles away.
There is a large matrix of procedures and commands and verifications that must be completed thoroughly for every single thing Phoenix does. The team needs to verify everything's ready prior to issuing a single command, then wait for at least 8 minutes, while the command goes up there, gets executed (which might take a few minutes, depending on what it is), and the telemetry is sent back so it can be analyzed to determine if things went as planned.
Then, there's a status check for the next phase, and the process will repeat itself. It can take hours just to make it's robotic arms reach down and scoop up a little dirt.
Further, we have to be in a position to have these commands and data streams relayed through the orbiting vehicles we have in place. There are times when we can't communicate with Phoenix directly, which adds to the timeline, of course.
We've delivered some of a scoop of dirt into the Phoenix optical microscope, and today, the procedures are being done to actually look at it, and start sending the data back to Earth. I venture a guess there's dozens of pages of procedures and commands involved in this process.
They also yesterday ran a full diagnostic on the wet chemistry laboratory, and sent the commands to thaw water ice that we brought along, which of course is the essential solvent that will be used in the experiments on another portion of that dirt sample in the scoop. We'll be putting that part of the sample into the wet chemistry module in the next day or so, and will then prepare to run the experiments there.
...by the way, the water did all melt and we're good to go!Once that's done, and data streams start coming back, scientists will begin the analysis of the results...which of course also takes some time.
Basically, it's kinda tough running your laboratory when it's about 40 million miles away, and you can't actually do anything with it hands on.
There are a whole series of questions that need to be answered prior to doing anything, and everything from that distance with an automated piece of engineering.
The simple act of reaching down and scooping up a little dirt, and dumping it proportionately into a couple of experiment modules, can take a whole day for a team of engineers and technicians to accomplish. This is something that a man, standing there, could accomplish in a matter of 30 seconds.
Un-manned missions are cool as cool can be...and a testimony to the capabilities of the people who design and build the spacecraft. Often, however, especially at such distances, the price you pay is time, and that's just necessary to make sure everything works right from start to finish (i.e., we cannot screw this up!).
Look at it this way: Phoenix took 10 months to get where it is, 10 months of travel and a painstaking (as well as nerve wracking) descent and landing, so it can do it's 3 month science mission. There's a hell of a lot packed into the mission--painstaking, precise scientific work. It's difficult, and requires profound attention to detail. After 10 months of transit, I feel we can wait a while for good data.
I am absolutely confident that this team of very fine people will get the data they're looking for and will be able to make substantive conclusions based on them. It may take some time, however! It's the nature of the beast!
