Mars in the news

Posted on May 25, 2008
Filed Under All, Photos, Technology |

Mars - NASA/JPLPlanet Mars is back in the news this weekend: NASA’s Phoenix spacecraft will attempt one of the most dangerous landings ever tried. The lander will attempt to set down in Mars north polar region after negotiating a perilous 15-minute entry into the Martian atmosphere.

If Phoenix survives the first seven minutes of fierce buffeting and heating (to thousands of degrees), it will then rely on a parachute and pulsing retrorockets to touch down.

Phoenix is equipped with a miniature backhoe and a set of sophisticated, automated laboratories that will analyze the soil and permafrost that Phoenix hopes to scoop up. Landing signals are expected around 4:53 PDT today…

[Update] Phoenix landed successfully at 4:53 PM PDT.

Comments

3 Responses to “Mars in the news”

  1. Anonymous on May 25th, 2008 12:43 pm

    The next frontier: live photos from mission control. What a concept, wireless cameras actually being used for something.

  2. cg on May 25th, 2008 7:30 pm

    I’m interested… Phoenix will be sending back high resolution stereo photos from its new home… should have fun with the monster high-res versions on the new Mac…

  3. Paul D. Waite on May 26th, 2008 6:04 am

    Phoenix is also Twittering: http://twitter.com/MarsPhoenix

Leave a Reply