What the Mars Phoenix Lander Saw

Robotic Arm
The spacecraft's robotic arm lies in its stowed configuration in this photo taken shortly after touch-down. The shiny film to the left of the arm is a "biobarrier", a precautionary measure taken by NASA scientists to protect Mars from contamination with bacteria from Earth. Though the whole spacecraft was decontaminated, the robotic arm was given additional protection because it is the only part that will directly touch the ice below the surface of the planet.

• Mars Probe is an Icebreaker