The Phoenix explorer, after taking a quite risky course, has succesfully made it to Mars.
“Phoenix has landed – welcome to the northern plain of Mars,” a flight controller announced.
One of the great risks involved the use of jets to slow and land, rather than bouncing on balloons like some other famous landers. Here is a rendering of how it would land.
The actual images are more amazing, especially those of the Phoenix descent and landing taken by other Martian orbital probes.
Phoenix deploying parachute and descending safely.
Phoenix descending in front of “Heimdall,” a 6-mile diameter crater on the northern plain of Mars.
Phoenix at rest on the surface.
Afterwards, Phoenix took this picture of itself, as one smal step.
Then it looked around and began photographing the Martian plain. Some wags said this was one of the images.
All is not fun and games though. Phoenix does have a short circuit problem. But, now the “Mars lander flexes its robot arm” and prepares for its exploration of the surface.
And just seven hours ago it was reported that the lander has seen ice.
Phoenix is to investigate subsurface water for signs of life on Mars, so we are truly on our way and perhaps stand on the brink of one of the greatest discoveries in the history of science.