Phoenix surface mission

MeteorWayne · Jul 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'> would not it be possible to use the arm to scrape the material from the leg ?or can't it reach it Posted by efron_24</DIV> I'm not sure of the arm's limits in that direction. It might not be able to reach 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>

MeteorWayne · Jul 11, 2008

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has touched Martian soil with a fork-like probe for the first time and begun using a microscope that examines shapes of tiny particles by touching them. Phoenix's robotic arm pushed the fork-like probe's four spikes into undisturbed soil Tuesday as a validation test of the insertion procedure. The prongs of this thermal and electrical conductivity probe are about 1.5 centimeters, or half an inch, long. The science team will use the probe tool to assess how easily heat and electricity move through the soil from one spike to another. Such measurements can provide information about frozen or unfrozen water in the soil. The probe sits on a "knuckle" of the 2.35-meter-long (7.7-foot-long) robotic arm. Held up in the air, it has provided assessments of water vapor in the atmosphere several times since Phoenix's May 25 landing on far-northern Mars. Researchers anticipate getting the probe's first soil measurements following a second placement into the ground, planned as part of today's Phoenix activities on Mars. Phoenix also has returned the first image from its atomic force microscope. This Swiss-made microscope builds an image of the surface of a particle by sensing it with a sharp tip at the end of a spring, all microfabricated from a sliver of silicon. The sensor rides up and down following the contour of the surface, providing information about the target's shape. "The same day we first touched a target with the thermal and electrical conductivity probe, we first touched another target with a needle about three orders of magnitude smaller -- one of the tips of our atomic force microscope," said Michael Hecht of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., lead scientist for the suite of instruments on Phoenix that includes both the conductivity probe and the microscopy stationhttp://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080710.html <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>

MeteorWayne · Jul 11, 2008

Animation of the thermal and electrical conductivity probe touching the surface:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/press/phx20081007.html <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>

3488 · Jul 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Animation of the thermal and electrical conductivity probe touching the surface:http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/images/press/phx20081007.html Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Thank you very much Wayne for the updates today. Quite like that animation of the Thermal & Electrical Probe being placed into the Martian Soil. Wonder what it will reveal?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>

efron_24 · Jul 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>There is now a nice panorama image of the Phoenix lander at this site:http://www.nivnac.co.uk/mer/index.php/phoenix-sols-13-to-43-r-1bc-aamp-r-abc-1It was put together by the site's creator, James Canvin.Here is a smaller snap of the panorama. The one at the site is quite huge. You can almost imagine yourself walking across the landscape.   Posted by Carrickagh</DIV> true.. you can imagine yourself walking there..but the idea that no large creatures (proberbly) ever did...No birds proberbly ever flew in these skies.Perhaps no plants or trees ever grew there..It is sooo empty.. Still a great image of an empty world..The yellow sky is special <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jul 11, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>There is now a nice panorama image of the Phoenix lander at this site:http://www.nivnac.co.uk/mer/index.php/phoenix-sols-13-to-43-r-1bc-aamp-r-abc-1It was put together by the site's creator, James Canvin.Here is a smaller snap of the panorama. The one at the site is quite huge. You can almost imagine yourself walking across the landscape.   Posted by Carrickagh</DIV>Yes that is incredible. James Canvin is very gifted & his initial panorama is on the wall at the Phoenix HQ in Arizona. He wrote his own software to enable the extemely wide formatting, well above me!!!!!!!It will be interesting to see how NASA's official Peter Pan will compare.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>

efron_24 · Jul 12, 2008

Phoenix has put to work two new instruments.A "Vork" and an AtomicMicroscope. http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/news/news.cfm?release=2008-130("movie" there of the vork going down)Phoenix Mars Lander has touched Martian soil with a fork-like probe for the first time and begun using a microscope that examines shapes of tiny particles by touching them. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jul 12, 2008

Looks like one of my requests to the Phoenix team is being carried out. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/4/60282a77-db1e-481d-b4ae-3a389857f60b.Medium.gif" alt="" /> Midnight Sun approaching. Sun above northern horizon @ 11:15 PM Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/8/9289dcc7-bcee-4e52-8899-c9375674b356.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Sun at 11:16 PM. Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/13/b1486762-f5e4-430b-bd5c-f66fa65a0cb8.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Sun at 11:26 PM, Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/15/42824f9f-8ea0-4fd1-9fe1-445e1b7e3869.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 · Jul 12, 2008

Also this, RAC image taken of a familiar scene but @ 12:07 AM local time Sol 47. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/15/d68e1483-ae20-4fa2-bf2b-4968ecbef690.Medium.jpg" alt="" /> Sol 47, Sun @ 12:29 AM local time. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/14/9ef23b7a-fbc5-4afe-ae42-6ace26f243b2.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 · Jul 12, 2008

Stu from UMSF has created a colour view of Sun @ 11:26 PM Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/0/14/f0f3e366-fb85-40e2-9edc-59726f4609d2.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  RAC image @ 12:58 AM Sol 47. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/5/2/35939022-0517-4e9b-a27a-72b4ec1ef2df.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 · Jul 13, 2008

Thought this may be interesting (as members doze off in droves due to sheer boredom).Changing illumination during half a sol 46 - 47 from the RAC, local time, Scandia Colles.12:09 Hrs Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/15/2/6fb45a44-52b3-4f76-826d-f8421a1f2477.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  19:25 Hrs Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/11/2a73f6fb-922a-4879-ab73-163ebad39bc6.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  20:45 Hrs Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/9/11/69215034-aa7a-4d28-ab37-9616ac1983fc.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  22.36 Hrs Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/13/cbb7b1d2-123c-4a44-9d2c-a39a5c43bde2.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  23:20 Hrs Sol 46. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/6/12/c6741d54-5ddd-44b4-bc1f-86dd9567c199.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  00:06 Hrs Sol 47. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/10/2/dab23297-483b-455c-8212-17e7125482c7.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  00:58 Hrs Sol 47. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/11/1/8b7f83dc-faac-4fad-81c4-9e3f2f998353.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>

efron_24 · Jul 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Stu from UMSF has created a colour view of Sun @ 11:26 PM Sol 46.  RAC image @ 12:58 AM Sol 47.  Andrew Brown. Posted by 3488</DIV> the color image of Sol is of course super !!!There is a haze and possibly some clouds there. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

3488 · Jul 13, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>the color image of Sol is of course super !!!There is a haze and possibly some clouds there. Posted by efron_24</DIV>I agree Chris, that is absolutely stunning.I had put in a formal request for observations such as these to the Phoenix team. Whether or not my request (doubt very much that I was alone in asking for this) was actually behind the decision for the low Sun 'night time' observations to be made, I do not know.Part of the reason is that a low Sun is often the best time to pick out finer details like high clouds & near surface hazes & since we have not until now had a high latitude landing on Mars, it would be stupid for Phoenix not to be pressed into a few 'night time' activities under the midnight Sun.I still hope a time lapse movie will be made of the Midnight Sun swooping low over the northern horizon, but these images of the low sun just prior & just post midnight are superb, the first ever such observations from the Red Planet.Also the Robotic Arm Camera images above, notice also how the very late & early ones have muted shadows, also indicative of a low Sun shining through haze.I really hope there will be further observations taken around Midnight under the Midnight Sun, such as East, West & South facing views, showing the general landscape under that illumination, as well as Holy Cow & Snow Queen under the lander & of course further Midnight Sun observations at the 2048 x 2048 resolution also, like the ones late on Sol 46 & early Sol 47. 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>

efron_24 · Jul 14, 2008

wise words from a wise mani love to be outdoors when the sun is lowyou see (indeed) much more <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

Imtiazk · Jul 14, 2008

I have read a lot off and on about whether Phoenix would be able to "see" the first snowfall. Is this water snow or CO2 snow ?  And when is that expected approximately ?Is the presence of water conclusively established now by experiment(s) or is it still in the position of having been "proved" by means of the Sol 20 - Sol 24 photos.

3488 · Jul 14, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>I have read a lot off and on about whether Phoenix would be able to "see" the first snowfall. Is this water snow or CO2 snow ?  And when is that expected approximately ?Is the presence of water conclusively established now by experiment(s) or is it still in the position of having been "proved" by means of the Sol 20 - Sol 24 photos.     Posted by Imtiazk</DIV>Hi Imtiazk,Welcome to Space.com.The forst snowfall is fairly hard to predict, but IIRC it is expected to start around the time of the Martian Autumn Equinox, on Boxing Day, if Phoenix lasts to Sol 208. CO2 snow of course could commence before then, it which case chances of catching it start would be greater.I  think it is taking by mainstream opinion that Phoenix did catch subliming water ice on the Sol 20 - 24 images. Whilst still pretty cold, the current conditions at least in the 'air' are too warm for ice to persist exposed for long without subliming. As it gets colder, later in the mission that will change. As for 100% definitive proof, I'm not sure that we can say that it was water ice, though there does appear to be rock solid ice, just below the surface, insulated & kept at almost cryonic temperatures by the dust layer above. More observations & tests should confirm if that is so. Hi all,Weather summaries for Sol 31 to Sol 42.  <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/7/12/679ebb84-609b-4b7a-9c49-2773a7ebc50b.Medium.gif" alt="" />Sol 42 Weather Report. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/1/5/d142b5d0-3415-4cee-955a-deb977d2346f.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Sol 42 Maximum: -34 C / -29 F. Sunny.Sol 42 Minimum:  -78 C / -108 F. Sunny.Wind: 16 KPH / 10 MPH from the East.Pressure. 8 Millibars.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>

victo · Jul 15, 2008

It is quite strange for me that if you check the day 19 images, for example, you can see the big, white material (what later sublimated away) in the trench. During digging at those sols they were able to detach fairly big amount of white material.Does the surface become that hard after some sols on sunlight after dust were removed above? Like on earth (as I imagine) ice grows on snow surface when you uncover it.I thought the team should try to get one particle like that andget it into TEGA. However I understand now that they have to complete the surely cuccessfull "blind" movement in 30 minutes to get the sample delivery in the oven in time. Anyhow it seems to me that in a fresh trench the white material is more loose than few days after uncover. So they might try something with this method to get "ice" sample easier.

3488 · Jul 15, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Posted by victo</DIV>Welcome to SDC victo.Speed will be of the essence to get icy subsurface material from the trench into the TEGA. I suspect there are rehearsals taking place right now with engineers, using the test bed mockup, make the sampling of potentially icy material with Phoenix as quickly as possible. What would be ideal is for dig / scrape, into scoop, scoop positioned above an already opened door on TEGA & straight in, all in one maneuver. Dunno if it can be done as one maneuver, but really IMO, it must be in one maneuver. The ice if that is what is it, appears to sublime awfully quickly, maybe around midnight under the midnight Sun, as it will also be colder then. Fork taken out Sol 49. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/14/13/8e57c58f-e211-4b3a-bdc7-fb329d74ea7a.Medium.jpg" alt="" />  Looks like the surface has 'cracked'. Did ice sublime from under the crusty dust surface? 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>

aaron38 · Jul 16, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>There is now a nice panorama image of the Phoenix lander at this site:http://www.nivnac.co.uk/mer/index.php/phoenix-sols-13-to-43-r-1bc-aamp-r-abc-1It was put together by the site's creator, James Canvin.   Posted by Carrickagh</DIV>The dynamicism in the sky is incredible.  From pale blue to greens to dusty reds.  How much time passed between the individual shots?  How fast do those dust clouds move by and the sky clear?  There's a spot where it looks like a big red dust cloud is blotting out the blue sky.  That is going to be a fantastic sight for human eyes one day.

crazyfrog · Jul 16, 2008

Hi all,Wondering if anyone here might be able to answer a question that's been puzzling me.  I've asked this elsewhere but haven't received an answer (and I haven't seen it addressed anywhere else on the web):-Tests for the signatures of life conducted by the Viking landers came out positive (at least, 2 of the 3 tests did), but this was thought to be because the soil probably contained highly oxidising chemicals. However, results from Phoenix now indicate that you could grow vegetables in it. I take this to mean that it is life-friendly and isn’t highly oxidising (can anyone confirm that MECA or TEGA would definitely detect such compounds?). So, assuming that martian arctic soil is similar to that at the Viking sites, what implications does this have for the Viking life-test results?Thanks in anticipation.

JonClarke · Jul 16, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Tests for the signatures of life conducted by the Viking landers came out positive (at least, 2 of the 3 tests did), but this was thought to be because the soil probably contained highly oxidising chemicals. However, results from Phoenix now indicate that you could grow vegetables in it. I take this to mean that it is life-friendly and isn’t highly oxidising (can anyone confirm that MECA or TEGA would definitely detect such compounds?). So, assuming that martian arctic soil is similar to that at the Viking sites, what implications does this have for the Viking life-test results?Thanks in anticipation.  Posted by crazyfrog</DIV>Well, only one Viking experiment cme baack positive, of the others one was negative and two were ambigious. Overal the results, including the apparent positive, could best be explained, as you said, by chemistry.The actual amount of oxidants neeed to create the Viking results are quite small, I don't know how this cmpares with the results from Viking.  they my be compatible, on the other hand they may show the soil is heterogeneous, which is not suprising.Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars Arthur Clarke </div>

3488 · Jul 16, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Well, only one Viking experiment cme baack positive, of the others one was negative and two were ambigious. Overal the results, including the apparent positive, could best be explained, as you said, by chemistry.The actual amount of oxidants neeed to create the Viking results are quite small, I don't know how this cmpares with the results from Viking.  they my be compatible, on the other hand they may show the soil is heterogeneous, which is not suprising.Jon Posted by jonclarke</DIV>Hi Jon, I would expect the surface of Mars to be heterogeneous.The areology is not the same everywhere as the geology of Earth isn't the same everywhere. I would expect the PH values to vary enormously, perhaps more acidic close to the volcanoes & in the equatorial regions perhaps, less so further away & where ice, etc have buffered it & raised the PH. Perhaps this is why the Phoenix site is moderately alkaline, where as the other five sites are more acidic (IIRC the Spirit &  Opportunity sites are quite acidic in places).It does not surprise me that results are going to differ, when there are more successful landings on Mars. 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>

crazyfrog · Jul 16, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Well, only one Viking experiment cme baack positive, of the others one was negative and two were ambigious. Overal the results, including the apparent positive, could best be explained, as you said, by chemistry.The actual amount of oxidants neeed to create the Viking results are quite small, I don't know how this cmpares with the results from Viking.  they my be compatible, on the other hand they may show the soil is heterogeneous, which is not suprising.</DIV> Thanks for the replies, have finally managed to locate an interesting discussion on this very subject:-http://www.newmars.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&p=112138

MeteorWayne · Jul 16, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>It is quite strange for me that if you check the day 19 images, for example, you can see the big, white material (what later sublimated away) in the trench. During digging at those sols they were able to detach fairly big amount of white material.Does the surface become that hard after some sols on sunlight after dust were removed above? Like on earth (as I imagine) ice grows on snow surface when you uncover it.I thought the team should try to get one particle like that andget it into TEGA. However I understand now that they have to complete the surely cuccessfull "blind" movement in 30 minutes to get the sample delivery in the oven in time. Anyhow it seems to me that in a fresh trench the white material is more loose than few days after uncover. So they might try something with this method to get "ice" sample easier. Posted by victo</DIV> Upcoming is some tests to determine how long the rasped ice lasts in the scoop."The commands prepared for Phoenix's activities Tuesday called for rasping into the hard material at the bottom of the Snow White trench at two points about one centimeter (0.4 inch) apart. The lander's Surface Stereo Imager and robotic arm camera will be used to check the process at several steps and to monitor any resulting sample in the scoop for several hours after it is collected. " <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>

3488 · Jul 16, 2008

Replying to: <DIV CLASS='Discussion_PostQuote'>Upcoming is some tests to determine how long the rasped ice lasts in the scoop."The commands prepared for Phoenix's activities Tuesday called for rasping into the hard material at the bottom of the Snow White trench at two points about one centimeter (0.4 inch) apart. The lander's Surface Stereo Imager and robotic arm camera will be used to check the process at several steps and to monitor any resulting sample in the scoop for several hours after it is collected. " Posted by MeteorWayne</DIV>Hi Wayne,Looks like the rasping was successful.Just got this,MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICE JET PROPULSION LABORATORY CALIFORNIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION PASADENA, CALIF. 91109 TELEPHONE 818-354-5011 http://www.jpl.nasa.gov Guy Webster 818-354-6278 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. guy.webster@jpl.nasa.gov Dwayne Brown 202-358-1726 NASA Headquarters, Washington dwayne.c.brown@nasa.gov Sara Hammond  520-626-1974 University of Arizona, Tucson shammond@lpl.arizona.edu NEWS RELEASE: 2008-134 July 16, 2008 NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Rasps Frozen Layer, Collects Sample TUCSON, Ariz. -- A powered rasp on the back of the robotic arm scoop of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander successfully drilled into the frozen soil and loosened material that was collected in the lander's scoop. Images and data sent from Phoenix early Wednesday indicated the shaved material in the scoop had changed slightly over time during the hours after it was collected. The motorized rasp -- located on the back of the lander's robotic arm scoop -- made two distinct holes in a trench informally named "Snow White." The material loosened by the rasp was collected in the scoop and documented by the Robotic Arm Camera. The activity was a test of the rasping method of gathering an icy sample, in preparation for using that method in coming days to collect a sample for analysis in an oven of Phoenix's Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer. "This was a trial that went really well," said Richard Morris, a Phoenix science team member from NASA's Johnson Space Center, Houston. "While the putative ice sublimed out of the shavings over several hours, this shows us there will be a good chance ice will remain in a sample for delivery" to Phoenix's laboratory ovens.  Phoenix on Wednesday will be commanded to continue scraping and enlarging the "Snow White" trench and to conduct another series of rasp tests. The lander's cameras will again be used to monitor the sample in the scoop after its collection. The Phoenix mission is led by Peter Smith of the University of Arizona with project management at JPL and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, Denver. International contributions come from the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute. For more about Phoenix, visit: http://www.nasa.gov/phoenix and http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu. -end-Below rasp holes Sol 50. <img src="http://sitelife.space.com/ver1.0/Content/images/store/2/6/d254f1b5-0d6f-4f67-9661-aba168e8beba.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>

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