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Phoenix Mars Lander Deploys Robotic Arm, Possibly Finds Ice
The Phoenix Mars Lander has successfully deployed its robotic arm and tested other instruments including a laser designed to detect dust, clouds, and fog. The arm will be used to dig up samples of the Martian surface, which will be analyzed as a possible habitat for life. A camera on the arm will allow pictures to be taken of the ground directly beneath the lander. The camera has already seen what may be ice, which was exposed when the soil was disturbed by the landing. The data collected by the arm will be compared to recent findings which suggest that water on Mars may have been too salty for most known forms of life.
Sometimes the saltiness is not the problem. Some women just can't handle the texture.
It also tends to depend on how much red meat and asparagus you've been eating, too. Sometimes it's good to sweeten it up with some diet coke. (The caffeine is a good diuretic, the water dilutes it, and the water-soluble aspartame sweetens it up).
Your mom doesn't care for the saltiness though.