![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc2Vt6gqhtI6EgwyFozTNdOOkXBJSAjpABrPV_jHEcee3yIuxFS9-u2RwSBPKB9pWmTTmsj5sbWnV0e1Gfm2y9YE_-Xrngk48bW33d8NEhX1x3MLDclb8oaCGq8g_3UtV5dI1W4w/s200/baby+bear+mars+scoop.jpg)
The news from the Phoenix Mars Lander is that it has successfully scooped up soil [right top; credit University of Arizona] and filled the oven for analysis. The oven is really the Thermal and Evolved-Gas Analyzer instrument, or TEGA [right bottom; credit, University of Arizona]. It has eight tiny ovens to "bake and sniff the soil to assess its volatile ingredients, such as water."
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcV74c4BAT-wDpk7SAwVwgrYjTxhyC69GDiKjhLlK08vBYngaWDHilY68XRhqlqH91QHFxGYaJo-5AAWmVrR6U3ewOSJQmuhyKLOmbnLk9A_IfFCB3JIYaA5eTdR2Mw0XbnLrbcg/s200/tega+oven.jpg)
Despite all the high-tech jargon and equipment, I have to admit that my first thoughts were of small children making mud pies and putting them into toy ovens.
No comments:
Post a Comment