|
July 31st, 2008
Posted: 07:32 PM ET
From CNN’s Kate Tobin (CNN) — The Phoenix lander has successfully collected a tiny sample of ice from the surface of Mars and has begun to analyze it for signs of chemicals that could support life, NASA researchers announced Thursday. Controllers have been trying to get an ice sample into a gas analyzer aboard the automated lander for weeks, struggling with a scraper and rasp on the probe’s robotic arm that were designed to grind up the material for study, said Bill Boynton, part of the University of Arizona team running the project. Eventually, however, they used a scoop on the arm to dig up a sample of dirt, about 1 percent of which contained ice, and loaded it into the analyzer successfully, he said. |
 
Editor's note
The CNN Wire is a running log of the latest news from CNN World Headquarters, reported by CNN's correspondents and producers, and The CNN Wire editors. "Posted" times are Eastern Time.  New on the CNN Wire
 |
|
CNN Comment Policy: CNN encourages you to add a comment to this discussion. You may not post any unlawful, threatening, libelous, defamatory, obscene, pornographic or other material that would violate the law. Please note that CNN makes reasonable efforts to review all comments prior to posting and CNN may edit comments for clarity or to keep out questionable or off-topic material. All comments should be relevant to the post and remain respectful of other authors and commenters. By submitting your comment, you hereby give CNN the right, but not the obligation, to post, air, edit, exhibit, telecast, cablecast, webcast, re-use, publish, reproduce, use, license, print, distribute or otherwise use your comment(s) and accompanying personal identifying information via all forms of media now known or hereafter devised, worldwide, in perpetuity. CNN Privacy Statement.
|
|
del.icio.us
