![Click here for animation of PIA10798](https://webarchive.library.unt.edu/eot2008/20090830154441im_/http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/figures/PIA10798_fig1_thumb.jpg)
Click on image for animation
This animation shows the workings of the microscope station of the
Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA) instrument
suite of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander.
Samples are delivered to the horizontal portion of the sample wheel
(yellow) that pokes outside an opening in the box enclosure. The wheel
rotates to present the sample to the microscopes. The Optical Microscope
(red) can see particles a little smaller than one-tenth the diameter of a
human hair. The Atomic Force Microscope (pink) can see particles forty
time smaller. The samples are on a variety of substrate surfaces, the
small circles on the beveled edge of the sample wheel. For scale, the
diameter of the wheel is about 14 centimeters (5.5 inches). Each substrate
is a circle 3 millimeters (0.1 inch) in diameter.
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.