Phoenix Unstowed?

Space buffs like yours truly are hanging on every word of every press release NASA deigns to issue with regard to the unstowing of Phoenix's arm. This morning's presser was frustratingly laconic with respect to same, and irritatingly brief, to boot. It lasted all of about 22 minutes, as I recall, during which a number of images were showered upon us among the great unwashed, but none that cast much more light on what the chances were that the foresaid arm would be unstowed without further ado. Yesterday's assurances that the bioshield overhang was merely an inconvenience stood unappended, suspense on this matter still hanging heavily in the air.

We are thankful, as followers of Phoenix, that MRO's radio glitch is no longer an issue, although the glitch itself remains under investigation. MRO, for the time being, is no longer being used for regular data links until the issue is resolved.

Much was explained, in fact, this morning, and we were reassured that Phoenix is in fine health and that, in light of MRO's cop-out, Mars Odyssey was more than capable of taking up the slack. These things we knew.

The unfolding of the arm, however, remains an object of greater mystery, even as I write.

NASA promises more on the arm later this evening. We shall see.