Created Tue 27th May 9:49pm PDT by 
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Will the Mars Phoenix Lander dig as planned? (before June 3)
Settled as Yes
http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/02/1532508-nasa-robot-scoops-martian-soil-for-first-time
Background:
PASADENA, Calif. — A spacecraft orbiting Mars has photographed the Phoenix Mars Lander on the surface of the red planet, NASA scientists announced today.
Mission controllers also said the mission seems to have hit its first snag as the radio on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which communicates with Phoenix, has shut itself off due to an unknown problem. Despite this setback, Phoenix seems to be doing just fine.
"Phoenix is healthy, everything is fine," said Fuk Li, manager of the Mars Exploration Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
The radio shutdown prevented mission scientists from sending Phoenix its instructions for the day this morning, as well as from receiving another set of images from the lander. MRO controllers are working on the problem now, and hope to have it fixed for the next scheduled link-up this evening.
If the radio fix goes well, mission scientists will start attempting to move the lander's robotic arm tomorrow. A few days later, they will likely start practicing scooping up soil and in about a week, they may start delivering their first samples to the lander's instruments.
article:http://tinyurl.com/68pfek
cool image:http://tinyurl.com/58v7hk
Mission controllers also said the mission seems to have hit its first snag as the radio on NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO), which communicates with Phoenix, has shut itself off due to an unknown problem. Despite this setback, Phoenix seems to be doing just fine.
"Phoenix is healthy, everything is fine," said Fuk Li, manager of the Mars Exploration Laboratory at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
The radio shutdown prevented mission scientists from sending Phoenix its instructions for the day this morning, as well as from receiving another set of images from the lander. MRO controllers are working on the problem now, and hope to have it fixed for the next scheduled link-up this evening.
If the radio fix goes well, mission scientists will start attempting to move the lander's robotic arm tomorrow. A few days later, they will likely start practicing scooping up soil and in about a week, they may start delivering their first samples to the lander's instruments.
article:http://tinyurl.com/68pfek
cool image:http://tinyurl.com/58v7hk
Settlement details:
As reported by a major mainstream news source.
Settled
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Yes |
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No |
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Activity: H$70,940
Settled as Yes on Mon 2nd Jun 6:48pm PDT
Suspend date: Mon 2nd Jun 12:59am PDT Settlement date: Mon 2nd Jun 6:48pm PDT
Initial likelihoods: Yes: 75%
Action history:
Created Tue 27th May 9:49pm PDT by mork
mork
Suspended Mon 2nd Jun 12:59am PDT : Suspend date reached
Settled as 'Yes' Mon 2nd Jun 6:48pm PDT by 
ryanj![[Admin]](http://www.hubdub.com/images/icon_admin.gif "This user is an admin")
: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/02/1532508-nasa-robot-scoops-martian-soil-for-first-time
ryanj: http://www.newsvine.com/_news/2008/06/02/1532508-nasa-robot-scoops-martian-soil-for-first-time
Suspend date: Mon 2nd Jun 12:59am PDT Settlement date: Mon 2nd Jun 6:48pm PDT
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score: 10
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http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=8409174
Associated Press - June 1, 2008 11:23 PM ET
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - The Phoenix Mars Lander is scratching the surface of the Red Planet.
The robot has reached out for the first time to touch the soil on Mars and leave its mark. NASA's space craft will soon start scooping up soil and what scientists hope is ice to run tests on it.
The linked article says "NASA's space craft will soon start scooping up soil" so I think this should remain open until it actually does.
Caption is "Martian Soil Inside Phoenix's Robotic Arm Scoop"
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