NASA Phoenix spacecraft lands on Mars
NASA today landed a probe on Mars in a bid to find out if there is life on the Red Planet.It took Phoenix 10 months to get to Mars and cost NASA £230million to make the 422-million-mile journey.
Phoenix will use robotic arms to collect soil and water samples which it is hoped could help scientists determine if life has existed there, or still does.
Scientists also hope the 7-foot-tall, 904-pound craft will find ice — the remains of an ocean that covered much of Mars millions of years ago.
About two hours after the 12,750mph descent and landing, the first images came back showing that its solar arrays had been successfully deployed and the craft was sitting on a stable and safe surface.
Phoenix's touchdown is the first successful landing on Mars since NASA's twin rovers arrived in 2004.
The name Phoenix, (the mythical bird rising from its own ashes) was given to the spacecraft because of the Mars Polar Lander, which was lost in 1999 as it descended toward the planet.
LINKS
NASA
Phoenix's touchdown is the first successful landing on Mars since NASA's twin rovers arrived in 2004.
The name Phoenix, (the mythical bird rising from its own ashes) was given to the spacecraft because of the Mars Polar Lander, which was lost in 1999 as it descended toward the planet.
LINKS
NASA
