NASA is about to launch Phoenix robots to probe Mars

NASA is preparing to launch a Mars exploration robot to track traces of life present or once existed on the red planet.

The Phoenix Mars Lander robot is scheduled to be launched between August 3 and 24 from the state of Florida and will be near the North Pole on May 25, 2008. Mission will last about 3 months. NASA has targeted an area without a rock, at the same latitude as Northern Alaska on Earth and with a negative temperature of 100 ^° C.

If it safely landed on Mars, the robot will deploy a 2.3m long arm to dig down a depth of 1m. Scientists hope it will find underground ice. After that, the robot will determine whether this frozen water is conducive to bacterial growth.

"Robot will analyze water, determine chemical composition, physical properties and will reveal the history of water on Mars with the potential presence of bacteria", NASA scientist Bobby Fogel to speak.

(Photo: NASA, Reuters)

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