At 5:26 EDT the Delta II Rocket carrying the Phoenix Mars Lander lifted off from its launch pad at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base.
In less than 90 minutes the spacecraft had left Earth's orbit headed for the Red Planet. This marks the beginning of Phoenix's 10 month cruise to Mars.
Phoenix will land on the northern plains of Mars and will dig into the soil and water-ice looking for evidence of past habitability.
In less than 90 minutes the spacecraft had left Earth's orbit headed for the Red Planet. This marks the beginning of Phoenix's 10 month cruise to Mars.
Phoenix will land on the northern plains of Mars and will dig into the soil and water-ice looking for evidence of past habitability.
A quarter million names -- including those of all Planetary Society members -- and many of the greatest works of Martian literature, are headed off to Mars. Remember this is not a standard DVD -- its an archival quality silica glass mini-DVD designed to last for hundreds of years in Mars' hostile environment.
The mini-DVD hardware heritage goes back to a design for the cancelled 2001 Mars lander. A few years later, with the LEGO Company, we flew a similar DVD on the landers for both Mars Exploration Rovers. And, now, our DVD is flying on the very spacecraft base for which it was originally designed, as Phoenix is the rebirth of the 2001 Mars lander—risen from the ashes and improved.
The mini-DVD hardware heritage goes back to a design for the cancelled 2001 Mars lander. A few years later, with the LEGO Company, we flew a similar DVD on the landers for both Mars Exploration Rovers. And, now, our DVD is flying on the very spacecraft base for which it was originally designed, as Phoenix is the rebirth of the 2001 Mars lander—risen from the ashes and improved.
I'm also on my way to Mars, along with my Dad and Melissa engraved on the DVD!
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