Phoenix Lander Frustrates Again

NASA scientists are losing their sleep over Phoenix lander’s functions but the red planet seems like a tough nut to crack. Since it managed to clamber onto the red soil the lander has been getting into one glitch after the other. Last Wednesday it remained incommunicado after a satellite serving as a mediator between itself and the Earth center suddenly went into safe mode. The delay caused the excavation process that was supposed to be started on the same day to be postponed till Thursday.

On Saturday however the NASA scientists’ subject for concern shifted from the rambunctious behavior of the mediating satellites, which has disrupted the project twice already, to the inefficiency of the instruments on the Martian soil.

The primary task of the Phoenix lander was to scoop out samples of the red soil and drop it into a tiny oven in which it would be baked and later analyzed for water and mineral content. After days of practice sessions the Phoenix has finally managed to spoon out the necessary soil samples and drop it into the oven. However, a screen obstructing the opening to the oven is keeping the soil from falling into the oven and being registered.

Scientists working on the project think the soil dropped into the oven was lumpier than it was expected to be. Presently the screen obstructing the entrance to the thermal and Evolved-gas Analyzer allows only particles less than one millimeter in diameter to enter the oven. Engineers explain that the present design was developed keeping in mind the possibility of a funnel entry into the oven getting clogged.

It’s a nail-biting situation and Scientists and Engineers at NASA are left
wondering about what to do next!

Speculating about future instances an Engineer suggested that "In the future, we may prepare the soil by pushing down on the surface with the arm before scooping up the material to break it up, then sprinkle a smaller amount over the door”.

But for now even NASA is left befuddled.

Since it landed on the Martian soil Phoenix has been sending back images of a rust colored, red landscape set with polygonal shapes in the soil. NASA scientists are hopeful that the polygonal structures on the landscape are traces of a large amount of ‘water ice’ which could even now be expanding and contracting under the superficial layer of the dusty top soil.

The Phoenix lander was sent to the Martian soil in the hope of helping the scientific community discover traces confirming whether conditions on the planet was ever suitable for life.