NASA says Phoenix spacecraft may have landed on ice

June 1, 2008 

According to NASA, new images received from the Phoenix lander on Mars shows a possible layer of ice on its landing site. Scientists received the images on Friday May 30 from the craft's robotic arm camera. The image was taken on the fifth Martian day, or Sol 5. 
Scientists say that as Phoenix landed, the exhaust from its thrusters cleared away a three to four inch layer of Martian soil which exposed a flat layer of a white substance, that NASA says could be ice. The image shows the white layer which is shiny and smooth. 
"It's the consensus of all of us that we have found ice. We were expecting to find ice within two to six inches of the surface. The thrusters have excavated two to six inches and, sure enough, we see something that looks like ice. It's not impossible that it's something else, but our leading interpretation is ice," said top Phoenix investigator at the University of Arizona in Tucson Peter Smith.
NASA says Phoenix spacecraft may have landed on ice June 1 , 2008 According to NASA , new images received from the Phoenix lander on Mars shows a possible layer of ice on its landing site . Scientists received the images on Friday May 30 from the craft 's robotic arm camera . The image was taken on the fifth Martian day , or Sol 5 . Scientists say that as Phoenix landed , the exhaust from its thrusters cleared away a three to four inch layer of Martian soil which exposed a flat layer of a white substance , that NASA says could be ice . The image shows the white layer which is shiny and smooth . " It 's the consensus of all of us that we have found ice . We were expecting to find ice within two to six inches of the surface . The thrusters have excavated two to six inches and , sure enough , we see something that looks like ice . It 's not impossible that it 's something else , but our leading interpretation is ice , " said top Phoenix investigator at the University of Arizona in Tucson Peter Smith .
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