Phoenix surface mission

SpaceKiwi · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>So a spring for ejection stayed with the vehicle until landing. If so, who cares?. Was it to go with the shield or stay on the lander? My guess would be stay with the shield. But if all systems are deployed it is acedemic and has no effect on the mission and ten people will be busy for three months finding root cause. Posted by Testing</DIV> If your theory (or one similar to it) is correct, then certainly no harm done.  I'm just surprised that the subject hasn't been squared away by mission managers by now, at the media's prompting.  Perhaps it has been and I just haven't caught coverage of that.  I watched essentially the same question about launch pad damage get asked fifteen different ways by ten different reporters at a '124 press conference the other day.  Rightly or wrongly, that's how off-nominal events get pushed by the media in Q&A sessions.As I say, it might not be any issue at all, I'm just surprised that we haven't had a few words about it, even if it's just to confirm a scenario exactly like the one you suggest. SK  <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/5/c1f94fc8-d4e7-4303-b552-4077f2d35f68.Medium.gif" alt="" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

tanstaafl76 · Jun 5, 2008

Yeah I would think someone who was part of the technical/engineering group could recognize that object relatively easily and at least tell us what it is, if not how it came to be there.  I tend to agree we don't need to waste any time on it in terms of additional examination by Pheonix, I'm just curious what it came off of.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

efron_24 · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> Yeah I would think someone who was part of the technical/engineering group could recognize that object relatively easily and at least tell us what it is, if not how it came to be there.  I tend to agree we don't need to waste any time on it in terms of additional examination by Pheonix, I'm just curious what it came off of.  Posted by tanstaafl76</DIV> Although I am a bit curious about that (one color photo would show much more clearly what it is).. i am much more interested in the white material now.It sure looks like powder in the scoopsbut it also looks very much like ice under the Phoenix lander.In this b/w photohttp://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/images.php?gID=3075&cID=43it seems there is white powder AND (greyish) ice (in the deeper region.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Have they seen any significant Atmospheric Pressure swings?IIRC the pressure was stated as 0.1 of Earth or 76 TorrWhat is the resolution of the pressure transducers? Instruments with resolution of 0.1 Torr are quite common down here.Edit: Correction, must have been 0.01 ATM as posted 8.5 mBarr on Sol 1 or 6.375 Torr, common resolution is 0.01 Torr in this range. Posted by Testing</DIV>Hi Testing. No there have not been any significant pressure changes observed so far. It has remained steady @ 8.5 millibars.I do not know the sensitivity of the Phoenix Pressure Transducers, though I will investigate tonight @ home. Thank you for asking that very interesting question.Northern View Mosaic. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/2/de89359a-c6e3-45ed-b2ae-b8eb7fa2c8a0.Medium.jpg" alt="" />http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/239387main_S_010EFF_CYL_SR01038_R888M1.jpg<a href="http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/239387main_S_010EFF_CYL_SR01038_R888M1.jpg">NNW view at 4:00 AM local time. Looks like operation hours have been extended.</a>http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/239387main_S_010EFF_CYL_SR01038_R888M1.jpg http://www.nasa.gov/images/content/239387main_S_010EFF_CYL_SR01038_R888M1.jpg<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/9/f010b58e-618a-4257-b9c8-c8fee0f23389.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

jumpjack2 · Jun 5, 2008

Soil evolution during sols 5-9:http://www.planetmobile.it/jumpjack/immagini/soil3.gif

Philotas · Jun 5, 2008

That white layer looks pretty much exactly like what one would expect ice to look like. Sweet. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/11/790c6084-9040-4094-9b4c-d8b6a4daac01.Medium.jpg" alt="" />http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4271/kvittlagoppnrmku6.jpg <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Philotas · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Soil evolution during sols 5-9:http://www.planetmobile.it/jumpjack/immagini/soil3.gif Posted by jumpjack2</DIV> Looks like some soil got dropped into the trench dug by the rock at left. Nice animation. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Looks like some soil got dropped into the trench dug by the rock at left. Nice animation. Posted by Philotas</DIV>That is an excellent animation. Welcome to SDC jumpjack2, a great first post.Hi Philotas, it does indeed. It could still be salt, but yes it does look like ice. We'll know for sure, once TEGA has done the analysis.A view here of a patch of ground to the NNE, fairly close to Phoenix. What is becoming more apparent as the higher resolution images are being returned, is the polygonal ground does not appear everywhere. Perhaps the sub surface ice is patchy rather than widespread, or is at varying depths?A view here of a patch of ground to the NNE, fairly close to Phoenix. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/12/61aec659-b8f3-4662-8ccc-a5113fc94fde.Medium.jpg" alt="" />I understand that there is a media telecon today @ 11:00 PDT, 12:00 MDT, 13:00 CDT, 14:00 EDT, 19:00 CET (BST) & 20:00 SCET?BTW, the U of A site yet again is not working properly, it is at times as much use as a bread oven made from frozen hydrogen.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

MeteorWayne · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> If your theory (or one similar to it) is correct, then certainly no harm done.  I'm just surprised that the subject hasn't been squared away by mission managers by now, at the media's prompting.  Perhaps it has been and I just haven't caught coverage of that.  I watched essentially the same question about launch pad damage get asked fifteen different ways by ten different reporters at a '124 press conference the other day.  Rightly or wrongly, that's how off-nominal events get pushed by the media in Q&A sessions.As I say, it might not be any issue at all, I'm just surprised that we haven't had a few words about it, even if it's just to confirm a scenario exactly like the one you suggest. SK  Posted by SpaceKiwi</DIV> To my recollection, no one in the media has asked a single question about it! <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

jumpjack2 · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>That is an excellent animation. Welcome to SDC jumpjack2, a great first post.[/quote]Thanks. It was not easy. Not doing the GIF, but logging to the forum!!<img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-yell.gif" border="0" alt="Yell" title="Yell" /> I'm trying to post since several days. I eventually found out that Firefox does not like the login form...

Hi Philotas, it does indeed. It could still be salt, but yes it does look like ice.

I noticed two weird things:- trance appears different in two frames: has it been shot while being digged?!?- white area does not appear in first: is it possible it's a result of soil reaction with atmosphere? Actually I didn't look at which filter was used in images I used as frames... Maybe it just depends on this.

U of A site yet again is not working properly, it is at times as much use as a bread oven made from frozen hydrogen.Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV>What about newmars.com ?!? I can't acces it anymore since yesterday! There's a long&good thread about phoenix there, too.

shawneric · Jun 5, 2008

One thing we do know is they are extremely busy, especially because Odessy went into safe mode and they are trying to sort that out. As of this morning a contact at Nasa, who I sent the images too, said there is certainly something there. Hopefully they will mention something at the press conference today.I am no expert on the lander, but the arms used pins and was extremely sterile. It would also seem to try to keep the surface as sterile as possible as well. Anyone know at what stages the heat sheild came off or the lander legs deployed? The shield and legs as far as I can tell deployed before the lander touched down.The lander also blew six inches of top soil off. If it came off the heat shield it seems to have sure landed at an odd place, under or right to the side of one of the landers struts.It also looks to be somewhat relatively large( to me about two too three inches, perhaps even four inches long to me compared to some of the rocks around it, but maybe that is just an optical illusion.Its been my experience looking at stuff since the viking missions, they are usally quicker to respond to such a weird object and point out what it might be early on and it would seem to be pretty easy to identify a part from the lander really. I also noticed most pictures with that object in it you can't really enlarge much more then other images for some reason. I also know they took color images but have not released them yet.I know they are extremely busy, I am just really wondering about some odd issues here. If its  a part it sure would be good to hear them confirm it and what it came off of.The mission is spectacular.

jumpjack2 · Jun 5, 2008

I don't know if it has been already posted, anyway I found the image naming convention for Phoenix:http://www.met.tamu.edu/mars/filenames.html Looks like this site "messes up" images?!? I didn't yet check product_id matching with web caption, but some images clearly show they are not taken with the filter specified in the caption! http://planetary.org/data/phoenix_raw.html(e.g. white stuff in trench is visible with blue filter, but I can see it in an image marked as RED filter)

MeteorWayne · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>That white layer looks pretty much exactly like what one would expect ice to look like. Sweet.http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/4271/kvittlagoppnrmku6.jpg Posted by Philotas</DIV> Thought I'd mention that most people have an example of Magnisium Sulfate right in their own bathroom or medicine chest- Epsom Salts! Kiesterite adds a water molecule to the structure, but is quite similar. So take some out and look at it when you consider what those white patches might be! <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /> MW <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> But the Krell forgot one thing John. Monsters. Monsters from the Id. I really, really, really, really miss the "first unread post" function </div>

tanstaafl76 · Jun 5, 2008

Does the Phoenix scoop exert enough force to scrape rock?  Hopefully the white stuff is ice, but if Phoenix scraped a rock with enough force it would expose more of the internal rock color which would probably contrast sharply with the muddy red of martian dust.   <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

jumpjack2 · Jun 5, 2008

I like so much animated gifs!

http://www.planetmobile.it/jumpjack/immagini/dig-5-7-9-3d.gif"](GRANDE)[/URL]

http://www.planetmobile.it/jumpjack/immagini/dig-5-7-9-3d-bn.gif"](GRANDE)[/URL]Doesn't this look like what remains after ice melts?

3488 · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Does the Phoenix scoop exert enough force to scrape rock?  Hopefully the white stuff is ice, but if Phoenix scraped a rock with enough force it would expose more of the internal rock color which would probably contrast sharply with the muddy red of martian dust.   Posted by tanstaafl76</DIV>Hi tanstaafl76. Yes most definately. The arm on Phoenix is identical to the one on the failed Mars Polar Lander in 1999. The arm is strong enough & the scoop enough torque that it could drag Phoenix on the martian soil & even tip Phoenix over. So the scoop would have no problem in scraping rocks.  Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I like so much animated gifs!

http://www.planetmobile.it/jumpjack/immagini/dig-5-7-9-3d.gif"](GRANDE)[/URL]

http://www.planetmobile.it/jumpjack/immagini/dig-5-7-9-3d-bn.gif"](GRANDE)[/URL]Doesn't this look like what remains after ice melts?

Posted by jumpjack2</DIV>Hi jumpjack2. I like those very much. Thank you very much for doing & sharing them with us. I see what you mean regarding the possible ice melt. It does look like that, though erosion can also do that. It's very difficult to say right now if there is any exposed ice. It appears as if Magnesium Sulphates (Magnesium Kieserite in this case) aka Epson Salts may instead be the white deposits Snow Queen & Holy Cow. We'll see.Odyssey has gone into Safe Mode so Phoenix is having to rely on MRO's recently fixed UHF link for the time being.The dig has been delayed another sol due to Odyssey safing out, but Phoenix instead until receiving new commands is taking images for the 360 degree full colour high resolution panorama, another very high priority task. Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 5, 2008

Particles under the miscroscope on Phoenix. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/9/3bc1a1b2-8712-4aba-99f0-0b396177d244.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Phoenix microscope silicon substrate, before & after. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/3/aad73eb7-81ee-4b92-a3ab-bc2382bbf2e9.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Highest resolution of martian dust particles. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/8/3e650a17-a5ed-4a18-b8c3-2b8ba660b9ca.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Scale of Phoenix optical microscope images. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/12/0/4ceec0e0-ce7a-4706-a034-fcd6f47545f9.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

3488 · Jun 5, 2008

Weather report upto sol 9. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/4/c2fbbfcf-628f-46ee-940d-0e2b5fb1a65d.Medium.gif" alt="" />Sol 9 weather report. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/7/0/973c2401-7215-4ed2-8086-f3d55037aff5.Medium.jpg" alt="" />I will be late tomorrow as have a hospital appointment in London, so will miss the Sol 12 teleconference images, but will be back later to do them.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

SpaceKiwi · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>...As of this morning a contact at Nasa, who I sent the images too, said there is certainly something there...The mission is spectacular.   Posted by shawneric</DIV> Thanks for the update, shawneric.  I guess we will just have to wait and see if mission managers feel inclined to comment on it at some point in the future.  Were it mission critical, I'm sure its liberation from the lander would have manifested itself in some loss of function or ability by now.  So, we'll have to assume it's no big deal.And, in the spirit of not distracting from the real business here, the mission has been spectacular so far.  It's incredible what this little craft has been sending back, long may it continue.  I've been enjoying the supplimentary analysis from our armchair experts very much so keep up the good work, guys. SK  <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/15/99b9f963-5a23-4bbb-af72-b605ed99ffad.Medium.gif" alt="" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Who is this superhero? Henry, the mild-mannered janitor ... could be!-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Bring Back The Black! </div>

lucaspf · Jun 5, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Particles under the miscroscope on Phoenix.Phoenix microscope silicon substrate, before & after.Highest resolution of martian dust particles.Scale of Phoenix optical microscope images.Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV> The microscope images are pretty exciting! Can they look at anything else, or only detritus caught in the silicon gel? Being in an optical mineralogy  class right now, I'm wondering what illumination method they are using? Are they using plane polarized light to illuminate? Is there a way to get the index of refraction for each grain? It seems logical that the lighter grain may be related to the white material in the arm scoop. It is important to note that this type of magnesium sulfate is a hydrous mineral, and also an evaporite. Basically it is what is left behind when a pool of water evaporates or sublimates. Either way, ice or Keiserite, this has an implication of water. have any of you guys seen "in the shadow of the moon"? I saw it last night and it was amazing. The lift off sequence gave me goose bumps.As for that little "spring". It sure does look perculiar. I feel that if it was important the science team might have mentioned it. Then again they may be saving the biggest presents for last.... Just kidding, what do I know anyway!Anyway, three cheers for Phoenix! Too bad the orbiters have decided to be tempramental.  EDIT: Although I understand the orbiters are doing their job in response to high energy particles. Three cheers for Odessy and MRO!Double Edit: Is Mars Express involved in any way? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jun 6, 2008

Hi Lucas. I do not know about the exact lighting arrangements for the microscope. IIRC it is an internal white light that provides the illumination???Also I think Mars Express is no longer involved. Mars Express is continuing her own mission & apparently is being set up for a close Phobos pass, or that was one plan????It looks like the UHF link on MRO is working well, that's very good news as Odyssesy is being returned to normal operations after yesterday's safing event. Phoenix scoop full of martian soil. Sol 10. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/9/6525ef4a-8c1c-4412-a941-d2db350dc3fe.Medium.jpg" alt="" />N to NE panorama. Sol 10. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/13/12/1d382e86-b541-4f0c-9cfb-7151aa70f0cb.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Second of the Three Bears trenches. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/15/fac4b84a-d0e7-4e82-bf45-785b6842998b.Medium.jpg" alt="" />Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

anthmartian · Jun 6, 2008

Thanks all for making this a great topic to read. I am quite often short for time as some of you may know i am without internet access at home. So i often download and read later.Unfortunately doing things that way means i cannot reply!But, i would like to say a huge thanks to Andrew who has been mailing me Phoenix images, which is a huge time saving thing for me in my curcumstances.I have worked with a few of those images. many are already out there as press releases, but hopefully they are different enough to be of some interest. I hope that maybe one of them at least can contribute to the discussion at some point.Keep up the great work.You can always see my bits and pieces by clicking on the anthmartian URL at the foot of Andrews posts.But here they are anyway...http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://www.flickr.com/photos/21412813@N02/sets/72157603600900669/Here's my own take on the recent trench imagery. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/1/1f3e6f4f-84fd-4787-91cb-c39a3ed2e2f1.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> See you all soon i hope. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/content/scripts/tinymce/plugins/emotions/images/smiley-smile.gif" border="0" alt="Smile" title="Smile" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "Traveling through hyperspace ain't like dusting crops, boy! Without precise calculations we could fly right through a star, or bounce too close to a supernova and that'd end your trip real quick, wouldn't it?"Han Solo - 1977 - A long time ago in a galaxy far far away.... Click Here And jump over to my site. </div>

bearack · Jun 6, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Particles under the miscroscope on Phoenix.Phoenix microscope silicon substrate, before & after.Highest resolution of martian dust particles.Scale of Phoenix optical microscope images.Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV> Andrew, can you help explain this?<img id="fullSizedImage" style="width:665px" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v607/Bearack/sampleMars.jpg?t=1212757387" alt="sampleMars.jpg picture by Bearack" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /> </div>

3488 · Jun 6, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Andrew, can you help explain this? Posted by bearack</DIV>Hi bearack, just a quick reply before I go to my hospital appointment. Thank you for showing. I really have not had time yet to properly look at the images as yet. Lets see. The Silicone substrate has a diameter of 3mm. Judging by the sized particles, I guess that 'wiggle' you arrowed is approx 40 micrometres wide & perhaps 1 mm long at the very most. I think it is a manufacturing artifact of the silicone substrate. If you look at it closely, the silicone substrte structure can be seen through it, ruling out it being totally opaque, like a hair, though at 1mm long it would be a very short hair.I do not think it is anything martian, I think it is a manufacturing artifact. My guess, but perhaps some one else may know better. I am sure that the Optical Microscope will be used on a regular basis, so we'll see if this feature remains.If it is terrestrial contamination, than obviously an enquiry will have to be opened & this could be like a modern version of the dormant bacteria in the lunar Surveyor 3 Lander Camera insulation, bought back by Apollo 12.Very interesting.I will be back tonight, British time.Is anyone listening to the Media Teleconference at 11:00 AM PDT, 2:00 PM EDT & 7:00 PM CET (BST)?I will be posting the images when I get back.Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>But, i would like to say a huge thanks to Andrew who has been mailing me Phoenix images, which is a huge time saving thing for me in my curcumstances. Posted by Anthmartian</DIV>No problem Anth. I will be sending more. Keep an eye out for the Sol 11 images when I get home after work & hospital. Perhaps by the time you can download them, we may have the Sol 12 images also.Its a real priviledge. Not only was I part of the campaign to get this mission to happen, it seems as if I am carrying out a useful role in the active mission, in an unofficial capacity. I am really enjoying this mission, well worth the mental & emotional energy involved.Andrew Brown. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> "I suddenly noticed an anomaly to the left of Io, just off the rim of that world. It was extremely large with respect to the overall size of Io and crescent shaped. It seemed unbelievable that something that big had not been visible before". Linda Morabito on discovering that the Jupiter moon Io was volcanically active. Friday 9th March 1979.http://www.launchphotography.com/ http://anthmartian.googlepages.com/thisislandearthhttp://web.me.com/meridianijournal </div>

bearack · Jun 6, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Hi bearack, just a quick reply before I go to my hospital appointment. Thank you for showing. I really have not had time yet to properly look at the images as yet. Lets see. The Silicone substrate has a diameter of 3mm. Judging by the sized particles, I guess that 'wiggle' you arrowed is approx 40 micrometres wide & perhaps 1 mm long at the very most.I think it is a manufacturing artifact of the silicone substrate. If you look at it closely, the silicone substrte structure can be seen through it, ruling out it being totally opaque, like a hair, though at 1mm long it would be a very short hair.I do not think it is anything martian, I think it is a manufacturing artifact. My guess, but perhaps some one else may know better. I am sure that the Optical Microscope will be used on a regular basis, so we'll see if this feature remains.If it is terrestrial contamination, than obviously an enquiry will have to be opened & this could be like a modern version of the dormant bacteria in the lunar Surveyor 3 Lander Camera insulation, bought back by Apollo 12.Very interesting.I will be back tonight, British time.Is anyone listening to the Media Teleconference at 11:00 AM PDT, 2:00 PM EDT & 7:00 PM CET (BST)?I will be posting the images when I get back.No problem Anth. I will be sending more. Keep an eye out for the Sol 11 images when I get home after work & hospital. Perhaps by the time you can download them, we may have the Sol 12 images also.Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV>Thanks for the reply, Andrew.  I didn't feel that it was of martian decent, but did suspect that possible contamination. I'll be listening to the conference, for sure.  Hoping for some more definitive answers....at least hoping that they ask some appropriate questions this time around.I hope all is well. Going to the hospital generally means something your local practitioner cannot handle.  <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <img id="06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53" src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/14/06322a8d-f18d-4ab1-8ea7-150275a4cb53.Large.jpg" alt="blog post photo" /> </div>

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