These color images were taken by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's Stereo Surface
Imager on the ninth Martian day of the mission, or Sol 9 (June 3, 2008).
The images of the trench shows a white layer that has been uncovered by
the Robotic Arm (RA) scoop and is now visible in the wall of the trench.
This trench was the first one dug by the RA to understand the Martian soil
and plan the digging strategy.
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.
