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David

Darling

Mars Phoenix Lander photos

Mars Phoenix landscape

Polygonal cracks resemble a quilted pattern in the soil of Mars's northern plains.
Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.


Mars Phoenix color closeup

Detailed view of the surface Mars close to the Phoenix Lander. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.


possible patches of ice underneath the Phoenix Lander Mars Phoenix color closeup

The descent engine blew away soil on landing, possibly revealing ice. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona.


Material from the martian surface captured by the Robotic Arm (RA) scoop during its first test dig and dump on the seventh martian day of the mission (June 1, 2008)

Material from the martian surface captured by the Robotic Arm (RA) scoop during its first test dig and dump on the seventh martian day of the mission (1 June 2008). Scientists speculated that the white patches on the right side of the image could possibly be ice or salts that precipitated into the soil. Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Max Planck Institute.


The images shown here were returned from NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander following its successful landing in the northern polar region of Mars on 25 May 2008.