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Clumpy Soil on Mars Tests Scientists' Skill

Researchers try "dribbling" dirt into lander's tiny ovens

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 10, 2008 3:37 PM CDT

(Newser) – The soil on Mars turns out to be too clumpy to be analyzed by the Phoenix lander, but scientists are confident they've found away around the problem by "dribbling" it small amounts on sifters. They won't know for sure whether the new technique works for a day or two, the San Francisco Chronicle reports.

The Phoenix has eight tiny ovens ready to cook the Martian soil and search for chemical evidence of life. "To be honest," said one scientist, "we were worried about not having enough soil to work with, and we never expected such a richness." The Phoenix uses an 8-foot long mechanical arm with a camera attached to dig and dump the soil.

Material from the Martian surface captured by the robotic arm scoop on the 14th Martian day of the mission.
Material from the Martian surface captured by the robotic arm scoop on the 14th Martian day of the mission.   (AP Photo)
This image provided shows Martian soil retrieved by the robotic arm of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander and released onto a screened opening of the lander's tiny testing oven on Friday, June 6, 2008.
This image provided shows Martian soil retrieved by the robotic arm of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander and released onto a screened opening of the lander's tiny testing oven on Friday, June 6, 2008.   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image provided by NASA was acquired at the Phoenix landing site on day 11 of the mission on the surface of Mars.
This image provided by NASA was acquired at the Phoenix landing site on day 11 of the mission on the surface of Mars.   (AP Photo/NASA)
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