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Sun 25 May, 2008 07:07 pm
NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has successfully landed near Mars' north pole for a 90-day digging mission.
Mission control at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory celebrated after the Phoenix Mars Lander signaled back that it had survived Sunday's fiery entry.
Phoenix will be the first spacecraft to study the Martian arctic plains. Unlike NASA's mobile twin rovers, the lander will stay in one spot. It will use its robotic arm to dig into the permafrost to determine if the polar environment has the ingredients needed for life to emerge.
THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP's earlier story is below.
PASADENA, Calif. (AP) ?- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has begun a dangerous descent through the Martian atmosphere toward a landing near the north pole.
Mission control said the robotic craft on Sunday was hurtling at 12,000 mph with its heat shield forward to protect itself during the seven-minute plunge through the thin atmosphere.
Mission managers hope to receive a signal indicating landing at 7:53 p.m. EDT, but they have said they might not receive the signal through the entire descent.
Phoenix is designed to dig into the icy soil in the northern polar region to determine if the permafrost could have supported primitive life.
the never-ending journey begins anew
It will send pics of little green faces very soon.
It was fun watching the mission control guys in Edwards, CA jump around.
I'm excited to see what they learn. Why isn't the entire world going crazy with enthusiasm? Oh yeah, Britney Spears probably exited her car without underwear... again.
T
K
O
A robot landed on Mars today
it was very exciting,
it was like a conquest
but there was no one to over-throw
no one to dispose.
I went to the Acoma pueblo today
it is the oldest continual community in north america,
mostly older people, traditional people, 2802 people,
they have no electricity, they haul water up the mesa
by the bucket full and heat their homes
with firewood they gather and carry home on their backs.
The Acoma people were over-thrown and disposed of properly.
There is no Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Acoma
and I think the people there are grateful of that.
I hope the mars lander brought a flag.
T
K
O
dyslexia wrote:A robot landed on Mars today
it was very exciting,
it was like a conquest
but there was no one to over-throw
no one to dispose.
I went to the Acoma pueblo today
it is the oldest continual community in north america,
mostly older people, traditional people, 2802 people,
they have no electricity, they haul water up the mesa
by the bucket full and heat their homes
with firewood they gather and carry home on their backs.
The Acoma people were over-thrown and disposed of properly.
There is no Jet Propulsion Laboratory at Acoma
and I think the people there are grateful of that.
The little microbes in the Martian ice may be preparing to conquer Earth.
I for one think it's pretty cool.
About two weeks ago NASA had some blurb in the news about a major discovery, something they'd found, and were going to announce it two days later. Two days later they said they'd found the remnants of the oldest known supernova, or something to that effect.
It's stuff like that that makes people not pay attention.
cjhsa wrote: NASA had some blurb in the news about a major discovery, something they'd found, and were going to announce it two days later. Two days later they said they'd found the remnants of the oldest known supernova, or something to that effect.
The oldest known supernova turned out to be Joan Rivers.
One of the first photos returned.
Looks a little like cheese pizza, with lots of oregano sprinkled around.
I think it's fabulous.
Can't wait for the info to start flowing!
This is potentially better than the rovers.
I'm very disappointed they couldn't come up with a scheme for making Phoenix last a few years. But, if the results are good enough, I suppose it shouldn't be measured in terms of length of time. Without wheels, it couldn't add that much anyway.
It always looks like Arizona or West Texas.
Joe(now near to Alpine)Nation
Joe Nation wrote:
It always looks like Arizona or West Texas.
Joe(now near to Alpine)Nation
Soon to be entering Big Bend.
Oi! Please tell me that the cat is a hoax....
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/kids_steve.php
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