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 Kristi Noem won't like this Wall Street Journal exposé. Au pair struck a deal to walk free in murder case. She got 10 years. Jeanine Pirro is suing her own hometown after she fell in the street. Jimmy Fallon's pasta sauces are now kaput thanks to Epstein files. Report an error