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Phoenix Mars Lander The Phoenix Mars Lander is just nine hours (at the time of this post) away from landing! The Lander is part of the Phoenix Mars Mission from the University of Arizona, in conjunction with NASA. It was launched August 2007 and is about to finish a 423 million mile trip. I have been hearing about his most recently as there is a lot of buzz about it not only here in Arizona, but the world.

The Mission’s goals are:

  • Attempt to determine if life ever existed on Mars
  • Characterize the climate and geology of Mars
  • Preparation of a human trip there

If the landing goes as planned, the Phoenix will be traveling at just a little over 5 miles an hour at the time of touchdown. There has been two previous missions that have failed.

Projects like this are inspiring, combining dreams, goals, exploration, achievement and hard work. I am looking forward to the pictures and information that we will receive from the endeavor. I do question one thing that you will often hear when reading about those that want to explore Mars and that is the suggestion that one day we, Earthlings, would live their. The Mission phrases it as habitability potential. My question would be, “Why?” That, to me, does not make sense. Your comment?

The landing is projected to take place approximately 4:30 P.M. this afternoon Pacific Coast Time. (7:30 P.M. Eastern)