So, according to <a href="http://phoenix.lpl.ar...

So, according to this press release, the contact with the rock "Alice" was accidental while extracting the TCP.

This is highly unlikely.

• The scoop near Alice in reply 281 is full of soil.


• The scoop contains no soil while the TCP is in use


• There is deliberate digging behind Alice.

Alice is not near the area where the TCP probe was placed and the scoop operators should have it's operation down to mm by now.

The mushroom principle is now in full force in this mission.

I wonder if the "scoop guys" like being "blaned" for this event?

But, strangely, I am curiously elated by this development.

In the same release Peter Smith said:

The preliminary signatures we are seeing are intriguing. Before we release results, we want to verify that our interpretations are correct by conducting laboratory tests.

What can that possibly mean?

Time to pack my bags and get out of Nool.

I hope to be back in 3-4 weeks for the big press conference.

Bye.