Mars lander presents a scientific puzzle

Published: Sept. 9, 2008 at 2:50 PM
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This artist's concept depicts NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander a moment before its 2008 touchdown on the arctic plains of Mars. Pulsed rocket engines control the spacecraft's speed during the final seconds of descent. Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude.   (UPI Photo/NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona)
This artist's concept depicts NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander a moment before its 2008 touchdown on the arctic plains of Mars. Pulsed rocket engines control the spacecraft's speed during the final seconds of descent. Phoenix touched down on the Red Planet at 4:53 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53 p.m. Eastern Time), May 25, 2008, in an arctic region called Vastitas Borealis, at 68 degrees north latitude, 234 degrees east longitude. (UPI Photo/NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona) | Enlarge Enlarge
PASADENA, Calif., Sept. 9 (UPI) -- U.S. space agency scientists say they are baffled about the origin of "clumps" that are growing on one of the Phoenix Mars Lander's leg struts.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration researchers say an image captured by lander's robotic arm camera Sept. 1 shows growth of the clumps compared with what was present when a similar image was taken about three months earlier.

The NASA science team said it has discussed various possible explanations for the clumps. "One suggestion is that they may have started from a splash of mud if Phoenix's descent engines melted icy soil during the landing," the space agency said in a statement. "Another is that specks of salt may have landed on the strut and began attracting atmospheric moisture that freezes and accumulates."

The scientists note the clumps are concentrated on the north side of the strut that's usually in the shade, so the accumulation could be a consequence of the fact that condensation favors colder surfaces.

The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona-Tucson, on behalf of NASA. The project is managed by the space agency's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.


© 2008 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.


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