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Phoenix Finds Water on Mars »
May 25, 2008
Phoenix Has Landed! Transmission Received at Mission Control
The Phoenix Mars Lander has touched down on Martian regolith after successfully carrying out the entry, descent and landing (EDL) phase of the mission. Two minutes after separation, Mars orbiter Odyssey reported receiving a signal from Phoenix as it approached the atmosphere. Then a couple of minutes after that, it entered the atmosphere and Odyssey continued reporting a signal. As the heatshield finished doing its job, signal was received when it was ejected. As the parachute had opened, a measure of the distance from the ground was counted down. Then separation when the lander dropped and then ignited its rockets. Phoenix sent the signal at 16:54 PST.
NASA controllers admitted feeling jittery hours before Phoenix made its final approach into the Mars atmosphere but the $420 million-dollar spacecraft landed on-target within the northern arctic region so it can begin analysing surface soil for the presence of water. Evidence for ancient liquid water will also help scientists to understand the Red Planet's suitability to support life. This "Scout Class" mission will also be highly valuable when planning the future of manned settlements. For more detail, refer to the Mars Foundation interview with Sara Hammond.
For now, we await further news from our new outpost on the surface of Mars!
Congratulations Phoenix from all members of the Mars Foundation!
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add to del.icio.usPosted by Ian O'Neill on May 25, 2008 7:12 PM
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