Mars Phoenix Lander researchers begin soil study.
By: Captain Maverick
Published: Jun 10, 2008
Updated: Aug 30, 2010
NASA reported that the Mars soil is causing researchers more trouble as they attempt to study it using the Mars lander Phoenix. However, this has only increased their resolve to identify another method to study the samples collected thus far.
On Saturday, the Phoenix collected a soil sample and delivered it to its mini oven, but it was unable to sift any through the sorting screen. It attempted to vibrate the soil sample through the filter but that had little effect on the sample.
{slot15}NASA researcher's are now attempting to use a sprinkling motion with the Phoenix's scoop at the end of its robotic arm. They hope that this might produce a finer grained sample that the robot's camera might be able to get a better view of allowing scientists a better sample to study.
Their thought is that the process might work, but it might also take a lot of practice to be perfect, taking a great deal of patience in the team of engineers operating the Phoenix. Nevertheless, if they can transfer very small amounts of soil into the analyzers, they might have less chances of clogging the screen. This would allow the right amount of soil to filter through for a successful analysis.
The goal is to gain greater insights to the soil mineral make-up and identify the possibility of water content. Again, the possibility of water on Mars could contribute to the theory of the possibility of life having at one time existed on the red planet.
You can share this Mars news story with your friends or family from our Technology section. This article can be shared through e-mail or sent to online social Web sites including Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and others. You can choose from one of the options below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Welcome!