NASA’s Mars Lander began exploring the Martian surroundings, and scientists have already started analyzing images sent from Phoenix that appear to show ice somewhere underneath one of the Lander’s footpads.

Of course, it’s not all 100 percent clear, and as Ray Ardvison, from the Washington University said, they could be very well looking at rock. On the other hand, he added, they could be looking at exposed ice in the retrorocket blaster zone. However, they will need more data and detailed images in order to confirm one of the two possibilities.

Of course, just the images won’t do, and the real confirmation will be given by the excavation of the layers in the nearby workspace, Arvidson said.

However, the testing of Phoenix’s instrument that analyzes soil samples and heats them in order to identify its ingredients has uncovered a possible short circuit, but according to NASA specialists, a diagnostic will only become available in the next few days.

The Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer’s test records have shown an electrical behavior consistent with intermittent shortcut in the spectrometer portion. However, scientists at the University of Arizona, Tucson have already developed a strategy to understand this behavior and identify alternative possibilities.

The mission was given a “go” to proceed on Thursday to use the science instruments. An overall performance of the spacecraft on the surface revealed that everything is ready to move forward. Some instruments however still need to be checked out, as Phoenix project scientist Leslie Tamppari of JPL said.

With the help of a robotic arm, Phoenix will start digging for clues and take samples from the Martian soil. The landing spot proved to be ideal for the mission. Phoenix appears to have set itself on the edge of a trough, an ideal place for the digging operations.