This image was taken by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's Surface Stereo Imager
on the 17th Martian day, or sol, after landing (June 12, 2008; see also
PIA10786). It shows the lander's Robotic Arm scoop after delivering
the first sample of dug-up soil to Phoenix's Microscopy, Electrochemistry
and Conductivity Analyzer, or MECA, instrument suite.
The scoop sprinkled a small amount of soil into a notch in the MECA box
where the microscope's sample wheel is exposed. The wheel turns to present
sample particles on various substrates to the Optical Microscope for
viewing.
The scoop is about 8.5 centimeters (3.3 inches) wide. The top of the MECA
box is 20 centimeters (7.9 inches) wide.
The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf
of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, Denver.
