After experiencing a little trouble early on with the robotic arm on the Phoenix lander, it appears that all systems are go for NASA to begin sampling Martian dirt. A practice scoop was carried out successfully and scientists noted that “a bright material appears in the scooped-up soil and in the hole from which it came”-which could mean the presence of ice or salt, according to experts. However, full-scale soil testing is not set to begin until later this week.
https://gizmodo.com/nasa-phoenix-lander-finds-water-on-mars-394442
[Phoenix]
