Mars lander tools 'in good health'

New images sent back by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander during its first full day operating in the Martian northern polar region showed most of its science instruments in good health, mission scientists said.

The one snag on the lander occurred when the protective sheath around the trench-digging robotic arm failed to unwrap all the way after touchdown and now covers the arm's elbow joint.

Deputy project scientist Deborah Bass, of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, said scientists still planned to start the process of unstowing the arm yesterday, but it could take an extra day to fully stretch the arm.