"The intent and the plan is to have Odyssey relay each bit of the descent and landing that is available to Earth," said NASA spokesman Guy Webster, with the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif., which oversees the probe. Odyssey needed to skirt about halfway around the planet to be in position to monitor Phoenix's arrival. MRO and Mars Express likewise fired their steering engines to reach observational posts. Even the Mars rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, which are poking around the ground on opposite sides of the equator looking for signs of past water, were called in for support, simulating transmissions from Phoenix for tests with the orbiters. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter already has been tapped for active duty. In addition to relaying pictures of the target landing site, the spacecraft has been keeping an eye on the weather. The latest dispatch shows dust devils in sight, but they are not expected to be an issue for landing. Dust devils are common on Mars and are created when columns of warm air rise from the planet's surface, gathering dust as they grow tall in the planet's low gravity. Related Links: |
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