The Mars Phoenix lander is working through its three month mission and has started to maneuver its main tool, the 8-foot robotic arm used to dig for ice which might be buried beneath the planet's surface, among other things. NASA announced that Phoenix successfully lifted its robotic arm, which means that the four joints operate flawlessly after they were subjected to heavy G forces while on the space journey.

Apart from a radio glitch which delayed operations by one day, the arm itself had some problems freeing up from a protective sheaf that did not fully unwrap after landing as it was supposed to. But the minor hurdle has been overcome and the robotic arm is currently performing the full range of tests needed before it is actually put to use. Digging is expected to start next week.

It appears that the landing spot is ideal for the Mars lander's mission. Phoenix appears to have set itself on the edge of a trough, an ideal place for the digging operations. Phoenix is remotely controlled from Earth, through the orbiters which act as a relay. Sending an actual command sequence to Phoenix takes around 20 minutes.

Meanwhile, with the help of sharp color images sent by Phoenix, scientists are trying to recreate a panorama image (now one-third complete), which will allow them to identify the polygons they need. The images were taken by Phoenix’s Surface Stereo Imager on landing day, and on first two “sols” or Martian days.

The Surface Stereoscopic Imager records panoramic views of the surroundings from atop a mast on the lander. Its images from two cameras situated about as far apart as a pair of human eyes provide three-dimensional information that the Phoenix team will use in choosing where to dig and in operating the robotic arm.