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Fig. 16.17
Operation of the surface sampler in obtaining Martian soil
for Viking 2's molecular analysis experiment in an area named
'Bonneville Salt Flats'; the exposure of thin crust appeared unique in
contrast with surrounding materials and became a prime target for
organic analysis in spite of potential hazards. The large rock in the
foreground is 8 in. high. a The sampler scoop has touched the surface,
missing the rock at upper left by a comfortable 6 in., and the backhoe
has penetrated the surface about 0.5 of an inch. The scoop was then
pulled back to sample the desired point and b the backhoe furrowed
the surface pulling a piece of thin crust toward the spacecraft. c This
picture was taken 8 min after the scoop touched the surface and shows
that the collector head has acquired a quantity of soil. With surface
sampler withdrawn (d), the foot-long trench is seen between the rocks.
The trench is 3 in. wide and about 1.5-2 in. deep. Penetration appears
to have left a cavernous opening roofed by the crust and only about
1 in. of undisturbed crust separates the deformed surface and the rock.
Fig. 16.18
150-micron sand
grains (arrowed) can be seen next
to the wires (a little over 1 mm
wide) on this close-up of a Mars
Exploration Rover solar panel.
These grains are far too large to
have simply settled out of the
atmosphere—they must have
saltated onto the rover. NASA/
JPL
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