Phoenix

Phoenix was NASA's stationary laboratory for investigating water and habitability in the Martian arctic. After landing on May 25, 2008, its robotic arm dug trenches and delivered soil and ice-bearing material to onboard ovens, microscopy and wet-chemistry instruments. The mission confirmed shallow water ice and measured alkaline soil containing perchlorate salts. These analyses took place on Mars; no physical samples were returned to Earth. A Canadian meteorological package observed atmospheric water-ice clouds and falling snow, connecting local weather with the polar water cycle. Carbonate and soil-chemistry results helped scientists assess how the site may have changed during climate cycles, but did not establish the presence of life. Phoenix exceeded its planned 90-day surface campaign and continued for roughly five months, until declining sunlight and the approaching winter ended communications in November 2008.