The past week has been very intense for NASA scientists, as they have been working on analyzing soil samples collected by the Phoenix Mars Lander. On Saturday, Phoenix succeeded in its attempt to gather enough soil to begin analysis on its Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer. The analysis of the soil sample taken from a trench known as “Rosy Red” was scheduled to begin on Sunday, August 10.

According to NASA, the Mars Lander has been conducting overnight measurements of the landing site by widening a trench in the Martian soil and collecting a sample of surface soil for the oven to begin analysis.

The robotic arm first delivered a part of the soil sample to the TEGA analyzer on Thursday, but it wasn’t enough to start the analysis. Scientists tried again on Friday, as they sent commands to the TEGA to begin vibrating again, but it still wasn’t enough to begin the analysis.

Doug Ming of NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston said they have been dealing with clumps blocking the opening. “However, we have seen in the past that when this soil sits for a while, it disperses. We intend to fill an oven with this material, either by additional vibration of the same screen or by opening doors to one of the other TEGA cells,” he explained.

The Phoenix Lander also extended the width of an exploratory trench on Friday, extended between two rocks on the surface of the ground and formally known as “Neverland.”

Last week, NASA announced surprising results from soil samples analyzed by the Wet Chemistry Lab of Phoenix’s Microscopy, Electrochemistry and Conductivity Analyzer (MECA), which revealed the presence of a toxic compound – perchlorate - that raised a lot of questions on the chances of habitability on Mars.

But as everyone assumed that the presence of perchlorate is bad, NASA experts said the investigation needs to continue before they decide whether the perchlorate is indeed naturally found on Mars, and whether that is good or bad.

By making some logical assumptions, and comparing the presence of the chemical compound on Earth with its possible presence on the Red Planet, scientists revealed that perchlorate is found on Earth in deserts such as Atacama, and sometimes even acts as a fuel for some microorganisms.

“Right now we don’t know whether finding perchlorate is good news or bad news for possible life on Mars,” said Phoenix principal investigator Peter Smith of the University of Arizona, Tucson.

“When surprising results are found, we want to review and assure our extensive pre-launch contamination control process covered this potential,” explained Barry Goldstein, Phoenix project manager at NASA’s Jet propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

NASA recently confirmed the presence of water on Mars, in a sample taken from a trench approximately 2 inches deep. Following the latest discoveries, they decided to extend the mission of the Mars Lander with 30 days, until September 30.