Phoenix Mission to Mars

[sheeny (Al)]

This is from this morning's Nature Physics Portal Alert:

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080528/pdf/453576a.pdf

Al.

[Ric]

Thanks for the link Al, I can't wait for the tests to begin on the soil. It will be interesting to see what it reveals.

Cheers

[sheeny (Al)]

Another article (well mainly another version of that crater Phoenix photo) from Nature:

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080604/pdf/453712a.pdf

Al.

[sheeny (Al)]

I note a new article in Nature today where there are concerns that dandruff and dead skin cells from assembly of Phoenix could threaten the validity of tests for signs of life...

I can't access the actual article, unfortunately.http://www.nature.com/news/2008/0806....2008.878.html

Al.

[iceman (Mike)]

Great article and animation on the main NASA Phoenix page about sprinkling the dirt/dust rather than dumping it - as previously results had clogged.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ph...-20080610.html

Won't be long and they'll drop it into the microscope and the ovens.

[iceman (Mike)]

NASA are ready to use their "wet chemistry" set for the first time today.

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ph...-20080623.html

They'll be analysing a sample that they scooped up from the surface, to test for salts, acidity and other characteristics.

[sheeny (Al)]

Here's the latest article in Nature:

http://www.nature.com/news/2008/0807....2008.965.html

Al.

[iceman (Mike)]

Very cool picture showing an 11 day composite of the Sun on Mars..

Due to the high latitude, the Sun never sets!

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/ph...n_046_056.html