As I live and breath. The space community has gotten serious again about chemical analysis of Martian soil. NASA is very much driven by physicists and engineers, so it is nice to see chemistry get some flight time. Why don’t more chemists elbow these physicists out of the way to put packages on rockets? I guess we are insufferable ground pounders.
The Phoenix Lander which, to NASA‘s great credit, has successfully landed in the North polar region of Mars, is equipped with an array of analytical instruments and wet chemical apparatus for on-the-spot analysis of soil samples. Among the devices on board is a Swiss-made Atomic Force Microscope. This device will provide direct microscopic imaging of Martian soil samples. In true Swiss fastidiousness, it has multiple cantilevers for redundancy. I’m sure it keeps good time as well.
The Canadian Space Agency has contributed a meterological station on the lander.
The lander was constructed by contractor Lockheed Martin.
Given that the lander contains hazardous chemcials for the analyses, somebody is going to have to dispose of the hazardous waste after 90 days. I hope it is properly placarded. \;-)
Lamentations on Chemistry 
One eagerly anticipates Phoenix digging down about a meter and uncovering an access hatch that is engraved…
“somebody is going to have to dispose of the hazardous waste after 90 days”
Why? Most colleges and universities in this country regularly violate such standards. I know for a fact. You see, they often work with state and county officials to cover up the , let us say, oversights? Massachusetts is perhaps the most corrupt in the country. It’s old time Tammany type corruption with the state officials on various colleges payrolls. So your legit biz pays for the graft going on in your state by the so called, ‘higher institutions”.
Probably the USDA inspectors are a close second on corruption.
Or did you think everyone plays by the same rules?
Now Holden, I just made a little joke.