Pheonix Mars Lander Launch - 4th August 19:26

[iceman]

The Mars Phoenix lander is the first of NASA's scout missions. Phoenix is designed to analyze the ice and soil samples retrieved by the robotic arm from the Martian arctic's ice-rich soil.
Launch Attempts: 5:26:34 and 6:02:59 a.m. EDT, which is 19:26 and 20:02 AEST.

Mission Page: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html
NASA TV: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/index.html

[OneOfOne]

It'll have to get together with Spirit and Opurtunity and have a "Mars Party"...yippee!

I am currently reading "Roving Mars" which details all the ins and outs of getting these two to Mars a few years ago (another book review coming up?)...I can just imagine the thrill of those involved with this one too. They must be REALLY excited! Fingers crossed this one makes it!

[iceman]

"Roving Mars" is a fantastic book! I bought it when it came out - it's signed by the man himself (Steve Squyres) when he came and gave the talk at Sydney Observatory (or nearby).

Blast from the past (http://www.iceinspace.com.au/index.php?id=56,225,0,0,1,0) :)

[Mikezoom]

All looking good for a launch ATM. Fingers crossed it all goes well.

Mike. :)

[sheeny]

Thanks for the heads up, Mike! I found this and tuned into NASA TV 5 minutes before launch...

Al.

[Mikezoom]

No worries! :)

All went well. Nice to see more Mars landers finally. Can't wait for March '08.

Mike.

[ispom]

Well, Phoenix is on the way now,
but it’s a pity that it is not a rover,
may be, in a radius of 3 m all is bleak and desert , without life,
and 4 m aside the martian amoebas are amazed about the queery thing….:lol:

[iceman]

Excellent, glad it made it off Earth safely. Descent is the next tricky bit.

[OneOfOne]

Now you've got me jealous!:(

[sheeny]

This article about the Phoenix project is from news @ nature this morning:

http://www.nature.com/news/2007/070730/full/070730-11.html

Al.