News Planetary Science

Tasting ice

Phoenix Mars Lander ready to analyze ice if instruments work properly

By Ashley Yeager

- More than 2 years ago

Phoenix Mars Lander’s robotic arm has successfully drilled into the concrete-hard Martian soil in a trench informally known as Snow White.

ALL IN THE DRILL This image taken by the Surface Stereo Imager on July 14, the 49th Martian day of the Phoenix Mars mission, shows the robotic arm’s scoop and silver-colored rasp.