Phoenix Mars lander examines new soil sample
August 23rd, 2008 - 9:17 am ICT by IANSWashington, Aug 23 (DPA) The Phoenix Mars lander is examining a sample of soil from an “intermediate depth” of the Martian earth to determine if it is different from dirt at the planet’s surface and from a lower icy layer, NASA said Friday.The lander’s robotic arm dug up the sample, called Burning Coals, from a trench dubbed Burn Alive 3 and delivered it to one of the craft’s many small ovens early Thursday.
Phoenix had earlier confirmed the existence of ice about four centimetres below the surface and is now looking at a layer about one centimetre above the ice.
The ovens will perform three tests, first heating it to 35 degrees Celsius to look for ice in the sample, then heating it to 125 degrees to dry out the soil, and finally heating it to 1,000 degrees to determine its composition.
“We want to know the structure and composition of the soil at the surface, at the ice and in-between to help answer questions about the movement of water - either as vapour or liquid - between the icy layer and the surface,” said scientist Ray Arvidson.
The mission is to last through September.
- NASAs Phoenix Mars Lander scoops up soil sample for lab analysis - Aug 23, 2008
- NASA declares Phoenix Mars lander dead - May 25, 2010
- Martian weather report reveals ice and fog near surface - Mar 18, 2011
- NASAs Phoenix Mars Lander explores site by trenching - Aug 22, 2008
- Sticky Martian soil foils Phoenix Landers first ice study - Jul 29, 2008
- New ice-melting probe could help penetrate frozen environs on Earth, Mars - May 02, 2011
- NASAs Phoenix Mars Lander enlarges trench in search of ice - Jul 16, 2008
- NASAs Phoenix to collect soil sample in advance of winter - Sep 06, 2008
- Missing piece of Mars puzzle may reveal whether life existed on planet - Sep 04, 2010
- New Mars finding dims chance of life - Aug 06, 2008
- NASA Mars Lander digs three times deeper than any other trench for soil sample - Aug 27, 2008
- Phoenix Mars Lander scoops up almost perfect icy soil for analysis - Jul 02, 2008
- New device unveils more mysteries about Maritan atmosphere - Oct 15, 2010
- White deposits on Mars must have been ice, claim NASA scientists - Jun 20, 2008
- Phoenix Mars Lander finds possible ice on Red Planet - Jun 17, 2008
Tags: burning coals, celsius, centimetre, martian, nasa, ovens, phoenix mars lander, ray arvidson, robotic arm, soil
