This view from the Robotic Arm Camera on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander shows
the Robotic Arm scoop. This image was taken on the 59th Martian day, or
sol, of the mission (July 25, 2008). The scoop was photographed to confirm
it is empty in preparation for collecting a sample for analysis from a
hard subsurface layer where soil may contain frozen water.
The width of the scoop is about 8.5 centimeters (3.3 inches).
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.
