Science | NASA NASA Deploys Mars Probe's Robotic Arm Radio glitch delays plan by 1 day By Nick McMaster Posted May 29, 2008 1:00 PM CDT Copied Team members, from left, Ed Weiler, Charles Elachi, Peter Smith and project manager Barry Goldstein conduct a news conference at Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) NASA’s Phoenix Mars lander extended its robotic arm for the first time late last night, the AP reports, a day late because of a temporary radio blackout. The arm, which will unfurl over a 2-day period, will eventually be used to take samples of ice below the surface in Mars’ arctic regions to search for evidence of life. Read These Next Woman found 32 years after vanishing 'without a trace.' Kristi Noem: I was 'blindsided' by news about my husband. In his 20-minute Iran speech, Trump didn't mention these 4 things. Pam Bondi is reportedly on thin ice with President Trump. Report an error