May 26 2008
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Phoenix Lander Safe On Mars
Although I was watching the new Indiana Jones movie when it happened, the Phoenix spacecraft Lander made a perfect touchdown in the far northern arctic region of Mars today at 4:38 PM PST. The first pictures from the lander showed that the vehicle was resting almost horizontally on a frozen, pebble-strewn plain marked with polygonal depressions.
In the next few days and weeks, the lander will dig into the permafrost-like ground to look for and test water samples. Will there be the signature of ancient or hibernating life? Will there be pictures of Martian Abominable Snowmen? I hope so.
Leg and landing pad of Phoenix craft
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May 26th, 2008 at 8:52 am
I watched the whole thing thanks to Nasa TV. Lot of happy people in Misson Control cheering and clapping after they announced the landing.
And one thing that caugh my attention was the sign in some of the consoles: “Attitude Control”. First I thought I misread for “Altitude”, but no. So I wonder just what THOSE guys were checking…
“Ok Bob, your red light is blinking again. Stop frowning! Happy thoughts you guys, just like we rehearsed on the sims”