PIA10722: Phoenix 'Gets the Scoop' on the Scoop


Phoenix ‘Gets the Scoop’ on the Scoop

Caption:

This is the first image taken by the Robotic Arm Camera on NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, one day after landing. In the center of the image is the robotic scoop the lander will use to dig into the surface, collect samples and touch water ice on Mars for the first time. The scoop is in the stowed position, awaiting deployment of the robotic arm.

Background Info:

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.

Photojournal Note: As planned, the Phoenix lander, which landed May 25, 2008 23:53 UTC, ended communications in November 2008, about six months after landing, when its solar panels ceased operating in the dark Martian winter.

Cataloging Keywords:

Name Value Additional Values
Target Mars
System
Target Type Planet
Mission Phoenix
Instrument Host Phoenix Lander
Host Type Lander
Instrument Robotic Arm Camera (RAC)
Detector
Extra Keywords Grayscale, Water
Acquisition Date
Release Date 2008-05-28
Date in Caption
Image Credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Max Planck Institute
Source photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA10722
Identifier PIA10722