These three color views show the Robotic Arm scoop from NASA's Phoenix
Mars Lander. The image shows a handful of Martian soil dug from the
digging site informally called "Knave of Hearts," from the trench
informally called "Dodo," on the ninth Martian day of the mission, or Sol
9 (June 3, 2008). "Dodo" is the same site as the earlier test trench dug
on the seventh Martian day of the mission, or Sol 7 (June 1, 2008).
The Robotic Arm Camera took the three color views at different focus
positions. Scientists can better study soil structure and estimate how
much soil was collected by taking multiple images at different foci.
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.
