Phoenix mars lander touches down
26 April 2008
by Richard Conan-Davies
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has succesfully landed near the north pole of Mars. It was the first type of decent using a combination of parachute and mini rocket thrusters since the Viking Mission over 30 years ago. This mission is mainly focused on looking at the chemistry of the soil on Mars. It does include a range of other standard kinds of analysis such as temperature and barometric pressures. Radio signals received at 4:53:44 p.m. Pacific Time (7:53:44 p.m. Eastern Time) confirmed the Phoenix Mars Lander had survived its difficult final descent and touchdown 15 minutes earlier. The signals took that long to travel from Mars to Earth at the speed of light. "For the first time in 32 years, and only the third time in history, a JPL team has carried out a soft landing on Mars," Michael Griffin, NASA Administrator, explained. "I couldn't be happier to be here to witness this incredible achievement."
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images: University of Arizona , NASA, JPL
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