NASA's Phoenix spacecraft lands safely on Mars

May 26, 2008 

NASA's Phoenix spacecraft has landed safely on Mars, following a ten-month flight. Landing occurred yesterday evening at around 23:38 GMT (20:38 EDT), with confirmation being received by flight controllers around fifteen minutes later at 23:53, the communications delay due to the time taken for light and radio signals to travel from Mars back to Earth. 
Phoenix was launched atop a Delta II rocket last August. It is the first Mars Scout spacecraft to be sent to explore Mars. It will search for water and complex molecules at the North Pole of Mars. It is the third spacecraft currently operating on Mars, joining the Mars Expedition Rovers "Spirit" and "Opportunity", which are currently operating on the planet's surface. Phoenix is expected to operate on the surface of Mars for 90 Martian days, about 92 Earth days. 
Scientists monitoring the landing at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California cheered as the news was transmitted by the spacecraft, saying it had landed safely.
NASA 's Phoenix spacecraft lands safely on Mars May 26 , 2008 NASA 's Phoenix spacecraft has landed safely on Mars , following a ten - month flight . Landing occurred yesterday evening at around 23:38 GMT ( 20:38 EDT ) , with confirmation being received by flight controllers around fifteen minutes later at 23:53 , the communications delay due to the time taken for light and radio signals to travel from Mars back to Earth . Phoenix was launched atop a Delta II rocket last August . It is the first Mars Scout spacecraft to be sent to explore Mars . It will search for water and complex molecules at the North Pole of Mars . It is the third spacecraft currently operating on Mars , joining the Mars Expedition Rovers " Spirit " and " Opportunity " , which are currently operating on the planet 's surface . Phoenix is expected to operate on the surface of Mars for 90 Martian days , about 92 Earth days . Scientists monitoring the landing at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena , California cheered as the news was transmitted by the spacecraft , saying it had landed safely .
NASA's Phoenix spacecraft
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NASA's Phoenix spacecraft
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a ten-month flight
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around 23:38 GMT
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light and radio signals
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the Mars Expedition Rovers "Spirit"
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90 Martian days
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