“We found out we got in over summer break. It was such a rush,” Hansford said. “We knew it was going to be a shot in the dark to be selected, but we just had to be confident and hope for the best.”

The particular aspect the team is working on is the Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer. TEGA is an instrument which contains eight tiny ovens, each roughly the size of a highlighter, which will heat Martian soil to about 1,000 degrees to detect any organic molecules and evidence of water in the soil.

The Phoenix lander is scheduled to reach the north pole of Mars on May 25. Shortly thereafter the TEGA will become operational and the group will head to the U of A for a week to help scientists analyze data sent back to Earth.

One interesting aspect of the project was that the group this past summer built a model of the landing and testing surface of Mars. The area was off limits to most of the scientists, who were very eager to hear from the students about what the surface looked like.

“The area was confidential to the scientists because they were planning a simulated dig on the surface,” said Hansford. “We were very lucky to be able to do the build.”

Ogburn added, “When we left the room, all these scientists were trying to ask us what the surface was like. They were trying to get anything out of us that they could, but we weren’t allowed to say anything about it.”

Not only are the student interns learning the complex nature of what NASA scientists do, but also the human side of the project.

When the team first arrived at the U of A, they went into a room of scientists from all over the world who were battling to get priority for their particular part of the project. The TEGA aspect of the mission received a high priority for when the Phoenix lands.

“We learned how hard the scientists’ jobs can be,” Hansford said. The scientists are sequestered from daylight so they can work on Mars time. “They’re pretty much shacked down for 24 hours in their observation center; it showed science isn’t just about small things.”

“We actually got to watch what they’re doing in meetings and how they handle practice runs,” Ogburn related. “It helped us think about how we would react under the same circumstances.”

The Phoenix will try to determine several things about the planet, such as the weather at its north pole. Each task will be carried out by a separate instrument. However, the lander will only have enough power to operate one instrument at a time and, therefore, will carry out only one function at a time.

Although the Phoenix mission is considered a relatively low‑cost program at around $400 million, the two students emphasize the low price tag doesn’t reflect its importance.

“This mission could help tell us if there is a possibility for life on Mars, and whether or not it could be habitable someday,” Ogburn said.

“This is a huge step for NASA and the science field in general,” Hansford said. “We have never analyzed samples of Mars this specific before.”

Working on a project with NASA or any other high‑profile agency can seem intimidating and out of reach.

“I find that it’s hard for kids to seek out things at a higher level like this,” Hill told  The Desert Advocate. “When I came across this project, I knew it would be perfect to show them big things aren’t always out of reach. And now when students see Alexa and Kris walking around school, they know they can do things like this, too.

“I’m just so proud of the hard work they’ve put in on this project, because it has been tough at times. They’ve shown me so much determination throughout this process. The work they’ve done on this project has shown me that they will definitely succeed in whatever they want to do in life.”

One frustrating part of the students’ endeavor has been the lack of funding given to the interns. The team pays their own way to Tucson twice a month to participate in teleconference calls with NASA officials.

“We don’t receive funding to do the things we do, like community outreach and going to Tucson,” Ogburn said. “That can make informing people about the mission a little challenging and going down to Tucson a bit difficult. But I guess it looks good on our resumes,” she joked.

Additional information about the group can be found at the Boulder Creek Astronomy Club website bchsinspace.com.

Reach the reporter at nick@thedesertadvocate.com.