On May 25, 2008, the Phoenix team began operation of a robotic laboratory on the northern plains of Mars. Inside the arctic circle at 68 degrees, the undulated terrain driven by the ice underneath forms polygons. The robotic arm quickly dug a trench 5 cm deep and exposed the underlying water ice table; samples of soil and ice were retrieved and analyzed in 3 instruments. The results of those instruments reveal an alkaline environment buffered by Ca-carbonate with nutrients and potential chemical energy sources. This may be a habitable environment for microbes if liquid water is periodically available. The Phoenix weather station monitored atmospheric conditions as the sky turned from dusty to cloudy seeing ice snowing onto the surface late in the mission. We are investigating conditions in previous epochs to determine if water could wet the soil at times when the obliquity exceeds 30 degrees. Water is clearly part of the climate cycle and leads to the question: Is this a location where life is possible on Mars?

Argonne Physics Division Colloquium Schedule