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      Phoenix Mars Lander Takes a Look Around [Slide Show]

      Images from Mars's newest inhabitant document its quest for water

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      Phoenix Mars Lander Takes a Look Around [Slide Show]
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      Phoenix Mars Lander Takes a Look Around [Slide Show]

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      • VERTICAL HORIZON: This approximate-color view of the terrain northwest of Phoenix Mars Lander, obtained by the craft's Surface Stereo Imager (SSI), shows polygonal cracking thought to represent seasonal thawing and freezing of subsurface ice... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University
      • PHOENIX "WORKSPACE": This terrain model showing the workspace, or area accessible by, Phoenix's Robotic Arm has been color coded by depth (red = low; blue = high) with a model of the lander for context. Color-coding was derived from the depth perception feature on the craft's Surface Stereo Imager (SSI)... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University/NASA Ames
      • FISH-EYE VIEW: This mosaic, forming a 360-degree polar projection of the terrain surrounding the Phoenix Mars Lander, was generated from images collected by the probe's Surface Stereo Imager (SSI) instrument during the first three days of the mission... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University
      • MARS TIME CAPSULE: An American flag and a mini-DVD on the deck of Phoenix Mars Lander. The mini-DVD from the Planetary Society contains a message to future Martian explorers, science fiction stories and art inspired by the Red Planet as well as the names of more than a quarter-million earthlings... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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      • MARTIAN COLOR WHEEL: Three color targets—similar to what you might use in selecting a paint color for your walls—used to add hues to images [ bottom ] sent back by the Surface Stereo Imager (SSI) aboard NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University
      • CRACKING UP: A polygonal pattern in the ground near Phoenix Mars Lander, shown here in approximate color based on violet and infrared light, suggests that subsurface ice has recently undergone seasonal thawing and refreezing... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University
      • SOFT LANDING: NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander slid a short distance when it alighted on the pebbly arctic terrain of Mars this Sunday, as seen in this close-up image of the probe's footpad. NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona/Texas A&M University
      • BIOBARRIER: In one of the few glitches so far for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission, a shiny, protective film failed to completely unwrap from around the elbow joint of the craft's 7.7-foot robotic arm, shown here in its stowed configuration on days one [ left ] and two [ right ] of the mission... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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      • GOTCHA: This color image from Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera shows the Phoenix lander with its solar panels deployed on the Mars surface... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
      • LOOK OUT BELOW: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter's High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment (HiRISE) camera snapped this shot of Phoenix hanging from its parachute during its descent to the Martian surface... NASA/JPL-Caltech/University of Arizona
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      • VERTICAL HORIZON:
      • PHOENIX "WORKSPACE":
      • FISH-EYE VIEW:
      • MARS TIME CAPSULE:
      • MARTIAN COLOR WHEEL:
      • CRACKING UP:
      • SOFT LANDING:
      • BIOBARRIER:
      • GOTCHA:
      • LOOK OUT BELOW:
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