Data Analysis Programming for the Data Analysis Programming for the Phoenix Lander MissionPhoenix Lander Mission

Space Grant Symposium ’08Space Grant Symposium ’08

Patricia WroblewskiPatricia Wroblewski

Clayton ChuClayton Chu

In this PresentationIn this Presentation

Basic information about the missionBasic information about the mission

What type of instruments are on the What type of instruments are on the landerlander

The role of the engineersThe role of the engineers– Specifically for SSI IDESpecifically for SSI IDE

Creation/Implementation of PALtoolsCreation/Implementation of PALtools– Why we needed it and what it doesWhy we needed it and what it does

Background InformationBackground Information The Phoenix Mars Lander spacecraft will land on The Phoenix Mars Lander spacecraft will land on

the Northern polar region of Mars to analyze the the Northern polar region of Mars to analyze the sub-surface terrainsub-surface terrain

Launched August 4, 2007Launched August 4, 2007

WILL land May 25, 2008 (36 days!)WILL land May 25, 2008 (36 days!)

Hope to answer the following questions:Hope to answer the following questions:– Can the Martian arctic support life?Can the Martian arctic support life?– What is the history of water at the landing site?What is the history of water at the landing site?– How is the Martian climate affected by polar dynamics? How is the Martian climate affected by polar dynamics?

http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/mission.php

The PayloadThe Payload

Meterological Station (MET)Meterological Station (MET)

Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA)Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA)

Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA)Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA)

Robotic Arm and Robotic Arm Camera (RAC)Robotic Arm and Robotic Arm Camera (RAC)

Surface Stereo Imager (SSI)Surface Stereo Imager (SSI)

Science Operations Center (SOC)Science Operations Center (SOC)

The mission will be ran from SOC, a The mission will be ran from SOC, a University of Arizona buildingUniversity of Arizona building

Hundreds of people will be in the Hundreds of people will be in the building along with people calling building along with people calling into video conferencesinto video conferences

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Conclusion:Conclusion:

Good luck finding a chair!Good luck finding a chair!

It will be pretty hectic.It will be pretty hectic.

SOC continuedSOC continued Typically two shifts:Typically two shifts:

– First Shift: Instrument Downlink Engineer (IDE)First Shift: Instrument Downlink Engineer (IDE) Kickoff MeetingKickoff Meeting Downlink occursDownlink occurs Health Check Meeting (30 min after Downlink)Health Check Meeting (30 min after Downlink) Midpoint MeetingMidpoint Meeting Downselect MeetingDownselect Meeting

– Second Shift: Instrument Sequencing Engineer (ISE)Second Shift: Instrument Sequencing Engineer (ISE) APAMAPAM Sequence WalkthroughSequence Walkthrough Validation of blocksValidation of blocks UploadUpload

During the Mission we will be shadowing (if not eventually During the Mission we will be shadowing (if not eventually the primary) IDE for the SSI camerathe primary) IDE for the SSI camera

Role of the SSI-IDERole of the SSI-IDE

The IDE has about 1 hour to download, read The IDE has about 1 hour to download, read through, and analyze multiple undecipherable, through, and analyze multiple undecipherable, long reports generated by the landerlong reports generated by the lander

The IDE must also review images, detect The IDE must also review images, detect anomalies, and report on health and safety of anomalies, and report on health and safety of the instrument.the instrument.

That’s a LOT of work.That’s a LOT of work.

What is PALtools::basic and What is PALtools::basic and Why Do We Love it?Why Do We Love it?

The programs we have written are capable The programs we have written are capable of reading, analyzing, and reporting to the of reading, analyzing, and reporting to the IDE all these things within IDE all these things within seconds.seconds.

PALtools::basic is a collection of Perl PALtools::basic is a collection of Perl scripts that automatically analyzes 5 scripts that automatically analyzes 5 generated files, reports anomalies, and generated files, reports anomalies, and divides information into easily digestible divides information into easily digestible chunks each and every sol.chunks each and every sol.

PALtools::Basic in Action:PALtools::Basic in Action:Integrated ReportIntegrated Report

Over 100+ page report of all the Over 100+ page report of all the commands the spacecraft executed the commands the spacecraft executed the previous solprevious sol

Tells the SSI IDE how many images were Tells the SSI IDE how many images were taken, how long each command took to taken, how long each command took to run etc…run etc…

The problem: The commands for the SSI The problem: The commands for the SSI are jumbled with commands for MECA, are jumbled with commands for MECA, TEGA, etc…TEGA, etc…

The Integrated Report: BeforeThe Integrated Report: Before

The Integrated Report: AfterThe Integrated Report: After

Phoenix! We are Ready for Phoenix! We are Ready for Massive Amounts of DataMassive Amounts of Data

ISEs use it as well for their sequencesISEs use it as well for their sequences

PALtools::Basic for SSI onlyPALtools::Basic for SSI only– Can use programs individually for other Can use programs individually for other

instruments such as RAC instruments such as RAC

With PALtools, SSI engineers will be able to With PALtools, SSI engineers will be able to quickly analyze information sent down by quickly analyze information sent down by the spacecraftthe spacecraft

See you on Mars!See you on Mars!