Phoenix

[Viking]

With there being less than two days left to the landing I thought I might as well open a thread on it.



Phoenix is landing close to the Martian North Pole and it will utilise a robotic arm to dig/scratch the soil. It has eight ovens to heat samples in, panoramic cameras, microscopes, a meteorological station and more.



Here's a ~3 minute flash video depicting EDL (Entry, Descent, Landing):

http://www.space.com/php/video/playe...heonix-landing


Countdown:

1 day
9 hours
43 minutes


Webpage

[Beirut]

I love this stuff. Always surprises me that some people consider this a waste of resources. Exploration for the sake of exploration is enough. Goodness knows we have to go beyond ourselves.

Thanks for the link.

(Your name fits this thread well.)

[Viking]

I love this stuff. Always surprises me that some people consider this a waste of resources. Exploration for the sake of exploration is enough. Goodness knows we have to go beyond ourselves.

Thanks for the link.

Indeed. Every new Martian vista is different from the previous and it is always equally exciting to see yet another.

Indeed does also most of what we know about Mars comes from space probes. There is just so and so much one can find out from Earth or Earth orbit.

(Your name fits this thread well.)

How?


Countdown:

27 hours and 37 minutes left to landing

[Sigurd]

Quote:
(Your name fits this thread well.)
How?

Probably a reference to the Viking program which I believe resulted in the first successful landing on Mars.

[Viking]

Probably a reference to the Viking program which I believe resulted in the first successful landing on Mars.

Indeed. No less than four successfull probes named Viking: 2x Viking 1 + 2x Viking 2. The two viking landers landed in much a similar fashion, though Phoenix has got pulse engines, in contrast to what the Vikings had.

Countdown:

14 hours & 3 minutes

[Beirut]

The Discovery channel is doing a 7PM (est) show on the landing. I'll be watching that for sure. I think CNN has a show about it as well.

All this takes me back to the Apollo days as a kid.