Mars Phoenix Lander Given The Go

stlhawkeye writes "The BBC is running an article which indicates that NASA has green-lit Phoenix, the next Mars mission. NASA also has some details on the mission, which is centered around locating water on the red planet. Originally planned as part of the 2001 Mars Surveyor mission, the lander would launch in 2007. Among the more interesting plans for the mission is a new type of camera to photograph the landing site just before touchdown, and a robotic arm to claw through three feet of soil. The lander would touchdown near the polar ice cap. The mission is characterized as the first 'scout' mission for possible manned landing in the future."

Re:no ability to move at all

[avalys]

Speaking from a design perspective, it's pretty much a decision between "moves" and "doesn't move". The speed at which it has to move (for these probes, anyway) isn't that much of an issue: the issue is the need to include the wheels, mechanisms for turning, mechanisms for obstacle avoidance, and other things that any movement ability would require.

All of these come with an increased possibility of failure, but more importantly increased weight.

The tradeoff here is using the weight saved by making the probe immobile to carry more scientific equipment.