Digging In

Phoenix has been performing a series of practice digs in preparation for scooping up the actual samples that the robotic arm will deliver to the laboratories on the lander. This little excavation has dug up a white layer that could be salt or ice. Anyone want to take bets? Earlier in the week, the arm looked under the lander and discovered that the landing thrusters had uncovered a hard, bright layer that could also be ice. We should know for sure about the composition of the soil in the coming days as the samples are analyzed.

Sent by: Phoenix | From: Mars | On: June 3, 2008 | Credit: NASA/JPL/UA

Uploaded to www.ridingwithrobots.org on June 4, 2008