Since its successful landing in May, Phoenix has sent back a bonanza of scientific discoveries. Its first breakthrough was the confirmation of ice at its landing site. Previous measurements from space suggested there was frozen water lurking inches below the surface, but Phoenix became the first robotic probe to touch and taste it by melting icy soil in one of its lab instruments.
The Phoenix mission was not trouble-free. Early on, Phoenix was dogged with technical difficulties involving its tiny test ovens designed to sniff for traces of organic, or carbon-based compounds. Several oven doors failed to open all the way; the lander also had trouble getting the dirt into the ovens and a short circuit threatened to render the instrument useless.
Image: Martian soil piled on top NASA`s Phoenix Mars Lander`s deck and some of its instruments is seen in this Oct 19, 2008 image taken by the spacecraft`s Surface Stereo Imager. NASA`s Phoenix Mars Lander has ceased communications after operating for more than five months, NASA officials stated on Nov 10, 2008.
