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Mars Soil Frustrates Phoenix Again

Posted by timothy on from the pulling-out-doesn't-sound-manly dept.

Tablizer writes "The Phoenix Mars lander has been frustrated yet again by Mars's odd soil. The wet nature of the soil they are targeting appears to have made it get stuck in the scoop rather than drop into the oven. Past problems with similarly clumpy soil may have damaged the lander because the vibrator had to be used longer than it was designed for, resulting in a short circuit."

8 of 221 comments (clear)

  1. Definition of 'wet'? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What exactly is 'wet' about the soil? I see that the soil is icy (H2O ice or CO2 ice?), but as far as I knew 'wet' and 'icy' are mutually exclusive. Perhaps 'sticky' would be a better term? Or... is this some kind of cool ice that is 'wet' at very cold temperatures as opposed to good old fashioned dry ice?

  2. Re:Vibrator had to be used for longer than designe by RuBLed · · Score: 2, Interesting

    The research data collected from this event would be used to pave the way for human colonization of Mars. I hope...

  3. All that money.. by handmedowns · · Score: 4, Interesting

    And we couldn't implement "ice-cream" scoop technology =P

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    The road between democracy and tyranny is paved with secrecy in the name of security.
  4. Re:Inadequate testing? by emeade · · Score: 3, Interesting

    After the loss of the first vehicle, they did extensive testing. The whole Phoenix story is truly rising from the ashes, and very interesting. I think it was on the Discovery channel.

    My first thought was gravity as well, though I'd think we have enough physics simulations that we could at least do simulated testing under low grav. Looking at the homepage for Phoenix, it looks like they are looking into heat caused by the rasping might be contributing to the problem. Digging holes on Mars just isn't the same as digging them in your backyard, at least not yet.

  5. Re:Neato by Benaiah · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Besides the fact that your post was mostly rant there were a few good comments.

    All of the problems so far could have been fixed by a guy with a hand trowel. He could dig, sieve and work the vibrator.

    I think its time for a more general purpose robot to go.

    Also this really should have been more thoroughly tested. I mean one of those things that help you get icecream off the scoop would have been useful now. Guess next time they will think "what if the soil is clumpy" before blowing a cool 1/2 billion. I'd rather watch a redneck playing golf on the moon then hear about mars landers.

  6. Re:One sad conclusion by KingRobot · · Score: 3, Interesting

    The Phoenix was built by the UofA... No wet, clumpy soil in AZ.

  7. Silly idea? by hesaigo999ca · · Score: 2, Interesting

    I wonder if it would be that silly to try and turn the scooper upside down and LIGHLTY bang it on the inside of the oven so that gravity can do the rest and let it fall out...although I dont know how sturdy that oven is nor do I know if the robot is able to apply small pressure turns instead of full tilt ones.

  8. Worked fine in the lab by grikdog · · Score: 2, Interesting

    Sounds like one too many what-ifs got pruned from the decision tree. Nice. Probably saved a couple million bucks on the ground, got the pup out the door, and sent it all the way to Mars before it flushed its entire budget into thin air. Speaking as a taxpayer, at least the show's been entertaining.

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    ``Tension, apprehension & dissension have begun!'' - Duffy Wyg&, in Alfred Bester's _The Demolished Man_