Phoenix Digs for Clues on Mars
Explanation:
What's a good recipe for preparing Martian soil?
Start by filling your robot's scoop a bit less than half way.
Next, dump your Martian soil into one of your
TEGA
ovens, being sure to
watch out for clumping.
Then, slowly increase the temperature to over 1000 degrees
Celsius over several days.
Keep checking to see when your soil becomes
vaporized.
Finally, your
Martian soil is not ready for eating, but
rather
sniffing
The above technique is being used by the
Phoenix Lander that
arrived on Mars
three weeks ago.
Data from the first batch of baked soil should be available in a few days.
Pictured above, a circular array of the Phoenix Lander's
solar panels
are visible on the left, while a scoop partly filled with Martian soil is visible
on the right.
The
robotic Phoenix Lander
will spend much of the next three months digging, scooping, baking, sniffing, zapping,
dissolving, and magnifying bits of Mars to help neighboring
Earthlings learn more about the
hydrologic and biologic possibilities of the
sometimes mysterious red planet.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
