Phoenix Lander gears up to dig in on Mars

While NASA has plenty of long term plans for Mars in the works, most of its attention these days is focused on its Phoenix Lander mission, set to launch this August. After a long, lonely journey through space, the robot craft will (hopefully) ease its way down to the surface near Mars' northern pole on May 25, 2008 and get to work digging up soil samples in search of evidence of past (or present) life on the planet. To accomplish that, the lander's equipped with 7.7 foot long robotic arm capable of digging up to three feet into the ground, which NASA expects will be enough to get at frozen water thought to be hiding beneath the Martian surface. The mission is also notable for being NASA's first attempt at a so-called "soft landing" on Mars in three decades, eschewing the airbags employed as of late in favor of a heat shield/parachute combination, with some rocket engines firing at the last minute to gently set it down Lunar Lander-style.

[Photo courtesy of Corby Waste/Jet Propulsion Laboratory]

[hartmania @ Jul 10th 2007 12:42PM]

"eschewing" might be the most overused verb on Engadget.

[Chris @ Jul 10th 2007 12:59PM]

Another contender... "loosed".

[Salsa Shark @ Jul 10th 2007 4:01PM]

Along with "rocks" and "sports"...

[LS @ Jul 10th 2007 12:42PM]

Is that a screen-grab from Capricorn Two?

[Rainier @ Jul 10th 2007 12:43PM]

But does it transform?

[jeremy @ Jul 10th 2007 12:46PM]

What, no giant robots?

[JON BLAST @ Jul 10th 2007 12:51PM]

UoA? Wildcats? Boo!

SUN DEVIL FOR LIFE

[Chew Chew Chew ME @ Jul 10th 2007 12:56PM]

M--A--R--S

MARS BITCHES!!!

[Dasutin @ Jul 10th 2007 12:57PM]

The airbags were a good idea, but NASA had problems unfolding and getting the rovers out when they landed. But Firing engines at the last minute sounds risky.

[Erik @ Jul 10th 2007 1:24PM]

It is...the Scout is based off a lander that was postponed due to losing the Mars Polar Lander in 1999.

[Adoniteking @ Jul 10th 2007 1:16PM]

nO NO NO! you guys need to stop trying to crack jokes when the news is boring or has nothing going for it..it makes the news funnier than any witty comment you try to come up with..

[Steve @ Jul 10th 2007 1:23PM]

do your research....last attempt was the mars polar lander a few years back, which crashed. it was a "soft landing attempt" though

[Trae @ Jul 10th 2007 2:24PM]

Genius! We find oil on one of our other planets we will finally remove our dependence on foreign oil!!

[yanipheonu @ Jul 10th 2007 6:16PM]

I find it weird they're going with the rocket boosters...

Air bags seem to have a better streak than the other types of landings.

[Mighty Tomahawk @ Jul 10th 2007 7:24PM]

Don't piss off the Decepticons!!

[jayger @ Jul 10th 2007 7:45PM]

Hope that thing doesn't dig up the Soul Cube!

[Bobby Martin @ May 27th 2008 1:42AM]

But can it play doom?