Here's the scoop: Phoenix places footprint on Mars

William Atkins
Monday, 02 June 2008 23:51

Science - Space

NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory scientist David Spencer, who is the surface mission manager for the Phoenix mission, stated, “This first touch allows us to utilize the Robotic Arm accurately. We are in a good situation for the upcoming sample acquisition and transfer.” [LPI: “NASA'S Phoenix Lander Makes an Impression on Mars.”

The large, flat ice chunk found beneath the Lander, which is being called the "Snow Queen," is of high importance for investigation by the Phoenix team.

In fact, Max Planck Institute for Solar System Research scientist Uwe Keller, the lead scientist for the robotic arm camera, added, “What we see in the images is in agreement with the notion that it may be ice, and we suspect we will see the same thing in the digging area.” [LPI]

The discovery of ice on Mars is an important find for the Phoenix team. Hopefully, the ice will help scientists here on Earth learn more about the history of Mars and how it got to its present state. As scientists learn more about Mars and other bodies in our solar system, we also learn more about Earth's past, present, and future.

The Phoenix Mars Lander touched down on Mars at 7:53 p.m. Eastern Daylight Time, on May 25, 2008.

Its landing spot is within an arctic area called Vastitas Borealis, which is located at 68 degrees north latitute and 234 degrees east longitude on Mars.