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One week after landing on the Red Planet, Phoenix lifted its first scoop of Martian soil as a test of the lander’s 2.35 metre long Robotic Arm.
The first dig test area to the north of the lander. The sample was taken from the centre of this image; the Robotic Arm's scraping blade left a small horizontal depressiong above the sample collection site. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University. The practice scoop was emptied onto a designated dump area on the ground after the Robotic Arm Camera photographed the soil inside the scoop. Unidentified white fragments were noticed in the scoop and also in the hole from which the sample came, glinting against the rust-coloured soil. "That bright material might be ice or salt,” says Ray Arvidson, Phoenix co-investigator for the Robotic Arm. “We're eager to do testing of the next three surface samples collected nearby to learn more about it.”
The product of the first dig into the Martian arctic soil. Scientists speculate that the white patches seen in the right hand side of the image are ice or salt deposits, probably similar to the material seen under the lander earlier this week. Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Max Planck Institute. The project team speculate that this white material is probably the same material seen in previous images from under the lander in which dust was swept from the upper surface of an ice table during the landing phase. They propose that the material could be cementing the soil, making it slightly cohesive, and suggest that Phoenix has exposed the top of a thick layer of ice, with bits of that ice being scraped off by the Robotic Arm. Later this week, the Phoenix team will direct the arm to deliver its next scoopful of Martian soil to the onboard suite of instruments that will heat up and sniff out the constituent ingredients.
Related Stories May 30 Phoenix flexes robotic arm read more May 28 HiRISE captures Phoenix descent read more May 26 Spectacular new colour view of Mars read more May 23 Phoenix prepares for Mars landing read more |
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The Planets
Hubble Reborn
3D Universe
 This special publication features the photography of British astro-imager Nik Szymanek and covers a range of photographic methods from basic to advanced. Beautiful pictures of the night sky can be obtained with a simple camera and tripod before tackling more difficult projects, such as guided astrophotography through the telescope and CCD imaging. U.K. STOREE.U. STOREU.S. & WORLDWIDE STORE Starry Night  Explore the Universe with these new versions of the award-winning Starry Night Software. Available now from the Astronomy Now Store.U.K. STOREE.U. STOREU.S. & WORLDWIDE STOREExploring Mars  Astronomy Now is pleased to announce the publication of Exploring Mars. The very best images of Mars taken by orbiting spacecraft and NASA's Spirit and Opportunity rovers fill up the 98 glossy pages of this special edition!U.K. STOREE.U. STOREU.S. & WORLDWIDE STOREMars rover poster  This new poster features some of the best pictures from NASA's amazing Mars Exploration Rovers Spirit and Opportunity.U.K. STOREE.U. STOREU.S. & WORLDWIDE STORE |
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From tiny Mercury to distant Neptune and Pluto, The Planets profiles each of the Solar System's members in depth, featuring the latest imagery from space missions. The tallest mountains, the deepest canyons, the strongest winds, raging atmospheric storms, terrain studded with craters and vast worlds of ice are just some of the sights you'll see on this 100-page tour of the planets. 
Hubble Reborn takes the reader on a journey through the Universe with spectacular full-colour pictures of galaxies, nebulae, planets and stars as seen through Hubble's eyes, along the way telling the dramatic story of the space telescope, including interviews with key scientists and astronauts. 
Witness the most awesome sights of the Universe as they were meant to be seen in this 100-page extravaganza of planets, galaxies and star-scapes, all in 3D!