Mars Mission: Phoenix Leaves 'footprint' in Red Planet's Soil
Nasa's robot on Mars scoops out soil, leaving an impression that resembles a footprint
Nasa's latest robot on Mars has touched the red planet's soil for the first time, scooping out an impression that resembles a footprint with its robot arm.
The Phoenix Mars Lander's robotic arm was making a test run before carrying out experiments on soil and ice samples in its on-board laboratory.
"This first touch allows us to utilize the robotic arm accurately," said David Spencer, the Phoenix's surface mission manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
"We are in a good situation for the future testing," he added.
Images taken by a camera on the lander's robotic arm show what appears to be ice exposed underneath the spacecraft.
The main goal of the three-month scientific mission by Nasa and the University of Arizona, in Tucson, is to test the Martian ice for evidence of organic compounds that are the chemical building blocks of life.
The Phoenix Mars Lander's robotic arm was making a test run before carrying out experiments on soil and ice samples in its on-board laboratory.
"This first touch allows us to utilize the robotic arm accurately," said David Spencer, the Phoenix's surface mission manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
"We are in a good situation for the future testing," he added.
Images taken by a camera on the lander's robotic arm show what appears to be ice exposed underneath the spacecraft.
The main goal of the three-month scientific mission by Nasa and the University of Arizona, in Tucson, is to test the Martian ice for evidence of organic compounds that are the chemical building blocks of life.
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