Fact Sheet
Phoenix Descending
Phoenix, which landed on Mars on May 25, is shown in the final moments of descent in this artist's concept. The craft successfully opened its electricity-generating solar arrays and deployed the mast that contains its cameras and weather instruments, then transmitted its first pictures of the desolate landing site. After a few days of checkouts, the craft will dig into the frozen landscape to search for water ice. It also will analyze small samples of Martian soil for traces of the chemistry of life. [NASA/JPL/Univ. Arizona]
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