This sequence of two images was acquired by NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander’s
Surface Stereo Imager on sols 6 and 7—the sixth and seventh days of the
mission (May 31 and June 1, 2008). Both images show an area to the west of
the digging site informally known as "Knave of Hearts." The second image
shows the movement and shadow of the Robotic Arm. Between Phoenix's Arm
and the shadow is a small handful of Martian soil that has been released
from the Robotic Arm onto the surface.
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.