On the 3rd of this month, NASA started a new mission to the red planet Mars. The major task of the so-called "Phoenix Mission" is to look for signs of life, which means traces of water, on Mars.
On board are two microscopes, an excavator shovel and seven Maxon electro-motors.
The anticipated arrival of the Phoenix-Mars-Lander on Mars is May 2008, after a nine month journey. The journey time and destination have been carefully thought through. For the first time a probe will land on the northern hemisphere of the red planet at the beginning of the Mars spring.
Since the first Mars landing in 1997, Maxon Motor has been a constant partner of NASA. The Pathfinder was fitted with 11 small Maxon motors. Both probes Spirit and Opportunity, which landed on Mars in January 2005, each have 39 Maxon motors which are still working. The youngest project, Phoenix is also supported by Maxon motor.
Not only will the probe search for visible water on our red neighbour but will also dig for traces of water with a robot shovel. An over 2m long robot arm will penetrate the thin layer of dust and rubble to lay bare the permanent ice on Mars. This is, at least, the hopes of the researchers of the University in Neuenburg who want to look at the soil samples with a special microscope, to assess if primitive life forms can be found beneath the surface of Mars.
Also on board the Phoenix-Mars-Lander are 7 RE 025 motors with special ball bearings. The motors were supplied by maxon motor in Sachseln. These motors are being used to position the two solar cells which supply the probe with energy.
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