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read morePhoenix Lander digging with stressed out memory
William Atkins
Thursday, 19 June 2008 18:26
On Thursday (Sol 23), Phoenix will communicate more than normal with the two orbiting spacecraft (2001 Mars Odyssey and Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter) circling Mars.
Earlier, during these problems, Phoenix had been commanded to dig a 0.8-inch (2-centimeter) deep and 12-inch (30-centimeter) long trench called “Snow White” within a polygonal feature called “Cheshire Cat.”
The overall digging site is called “Wonderland.”
The polygonal shaped regions in this area are similar to patterns seen on Earth in permafrost areas of polar and high altitude regions. Scientists think that, like on Earth, this cracking on Mars is the result of permafrost ice contracting when temperatures fall.
The cracks are then filled in with fine pieces of loose soil falling from above. When the temeratures rise again, the ice expands again but can't go back to its original position so is forced upwards forming these polygonal shapes.
The white substance found on deeper digs was not found at this time. during this digging at Snow White. However, the Phoenix will be commanded to dig deeper at the same spot on Thursday.
Scientists with the mission think that the Phoenix will find out what the white stuff is composed of (possibly ice or salt) at this time.
Additional information about the Phoenix Mars Lander mission, including the image of the trench called “Snow White,” is found at "Phoenix Mars."
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