Mars Phoenix lander has near-perfect landing, says "it's really cold out here"
By Joshua Fruhlinger 
posted May 26th 2008 10:05AM
posted May 26th 2008 10:05AM
[Via The Phoenix Mission]
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cruise is incorrect. it does not move.
You're absolutely right -- fixed as to not confuse people.
It doesn't move because then it would have fun with the other rovers. Or, the aliens would decide to use it as a toy. Either one.
CONGRATS AMERICA !
Perfect Memorial Day Gift.
The Phoenix mission is led by Peter Smith at the University of Arizona, Tucson, with project management at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., and development partnership at Lockheed Martin, Denver. International contributions are provided by the Canadian Space Agency; the University of Neuchatel, Switzerland; the universities of Copenhagen and Aarhus, Denmark; Max Planck Institute, Germany; and the Finnish Meteorological Institute.
Hey, I can see my house from there!
There's Internet on Mars too?
They even have 3G!
Not only 3G, but WiMax too...
How much is -106 degrees Fahrenheit in Celcius? I didnt know there were countries that have yet to adap the metric system and all....??
about -77°C
Indeed, the US is still reporting in Fahrenheit. But good news! There is a formula you can do to figure it out!
Cels = (5/9)x(Faren-32)
Or you can go here http://www.wbuf.noaa.gov/tempfc.htm
The answer is 76.6C
You can also just type in "convert -106 degrees Fahrenheit to Celcius" into Google:
http://www.google.co.uk/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-GB:official&hs=Uxd&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&q=convert+-106+degrees+Fahrenheit+to+Celsius&spell=1
Google actually makes it even easier than that!
-106F in C
http://www.google.com/search?q=-106F%20in%20C
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O3ZuNBUBmcM
that sound Anti-American
METRIC RULES!!!
Metric is not more or less accurate than English measurements, it is simply different and based on units of 10. NASA has already stated they are converting to Metric. There is no reason the be pedantic about it.
If you watched the landing you noticed that they called out the distance in meters. Have you considered the fact that the mission is being run in metric and it's just being converted to English units for the reporting?
Frankly, if I want to measure my speed in MILES per hour, and put GALLONS of gasoline in my car what is it to you? Since English measurements are arbitrary and more difficult to do math and conversion on, perhaps your real complaint is that you aren't smart enough to figure it out, 'cause those fraction things are just to hard to work with?
Oh no, I think craig's bubble just burst.
How about this for an answer: the imperial system is dated and having the see it (with a few excpetions in the US) is annoying, its not very practical. Using a decimal system is much more efficient.
...Celsius is technically not a part of the metric system. They are independent systems of measurement.
No bursting bubble, just irritation at all the inaccuracies.
Kelvins and Celsius are a heck of a lot easier to convert than Farenheit to Celsius.
It's about time the US joined the rest of the world - but then again, the US is a country full of people who believe in Noah's Ark and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs.
"...who believe in Noah's Ark and that humans coexisted with dinosaurs."
Completely absurd statement. Have you check US foreign policy lately ? I think it's pretty clear that Americans don't believe in co-existing with ANYBODY...
(And before you low rank me, I AM an American...which from many peoples perspective probably warrants a low ranking in and of itself :P)
Smile people...just a little sarcastic humor...
Ooooh boy. The Greys aren't going to be very pleased about this. Expect NASA to release a statement about "unexpected technical difficulties" in the next 24 hours, aborting the mission.
Let me be the first to say it; I think they've landed on the moon.
Nah.... I think they never left AZ.
Seriously: This is a stunning technological accomplishment. Congratulations and good luck, all!!!!!!!!
It was an absolutely flawless EDL. Really great seeing it at their site. Thanks for continuing to track it. The Phoenix is one of the ultimate gadgets out there ... as in, wayyyyy out there.
Martian home already spotted? check out the white structure in upper middle right hand of landscape. Or maybe just a martian ice runner sled. http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/images.php?gID=440&cID=8
probably just a sign post.
most likely the shell jettisoned prior to landing...
The guys at JPL have jokingly called it "the martian polar bear"
Its a Starbucks.
I'm pretty sure it's just a big rock, with another big rock reasonably near to it making it look like some sort of building...
wait, that was the joke? Damn.
Let me know when they've found the Prothean ruins.
Seriously though, great work to everyone involved!
I'm playing mass effect now an the same thing jumped in to my head. Arizona looks rather flat may hve to visit one day.
it's just University of Arizona, there's no need for the "Tucson" as there's just the one campus
People confuse U of A with ASU all the time. U of A is in Tucson, ASU is in Tempe.
Anybody else only read the "High Rated" comments and just skip over the rest?
No, I prefer reading them all instead of letting people I've never met think for me.
I do that sometimes, Anton. Especially on a post with a lot of comments.
Like AJ, I do that on threads with a crapload of comments... On small threads I read all
So, Anton, does that mean you don't read your own comments?
Cygnus -
Why would he read his OWN comments?
When there are a lot of comments, I'll do that, because I honestly would be here ALL day if I read every single comment.
just got back from Indy IV, can't help myself so i have to ask this, great picture, but where are the aliens?
Great Picture? as in Star Wars Episodes 1, 2 and 3 great?
More likely as in Star Wars episodes IV, V and VI great.
The first three were rubbish.
IV = A New Hope, I = The Phantom Menace.
Are you seriously suggestion that The Phantom Menace was better than A New Hope?
If your only criteria is special effects I can see that I suppose.
Yeah, that was the whole point of CraigJ's post that you just missed there.
Of course, by "picture," clement pretty clearly meant the mars photo, not the Indy movie, anyway.
Yeah, I think you're right. So, yeah, Mars Picture = Great. Indy 4 = Maybe as good as Indy 2, but not nearly as good as 1 or 3...
Too bad it's not a rover like some of the other missions. But I have a feeling if it was, it's surroundings would always look the same.
It would also be nice if it had a core sampler built into it to supplement the scoop.
See that's the problem with NASA, they don't think BIG enough anymore
They need to go all out and send in a rover with all the instrumentation needed to do some real scientific studies, and not this half assed attempts they've been doing
You need multiple methods for exploring Mars - not everything can be done with rovers. That's why we have orbiters, fixed landers, and rovers. In addition, a lander like this is also a technology testbed. Learning to make controlled landings vs. the airbag method is essential for future heavier missions.
That said, if you are a rover fan, in a couple of years they are launching Mars Science Laboratory (MSL), which is a massive rover that will be lowered to the surface using a "skycrane". Search for it on NASA's website to learn more.
Looks like someone doesn't understand that you can't fit Earth into a spaceship.
@ z0phi3l
Two words, budget cuts.
In college 3 years ago, I was taught my introductory astronomy courses in Texas by two scientists who had been laid off by NASA. No one in either class was an astronomy major. Sort of sad.
So proud of America...
BUT NOT WHAT? Do you know the challenges that lie ahead of the Phoenix Lander?
You MUST watch this awesome video made by NASA/JPL of what the next 90 days will hold....
http://www.jeffmccord.org/?p=198
Firstly i think you meant now what.
and what about every other nation in the world that built and developed the thing.
Let's just go with reading it this way:
"So proud of America... [for being involved]"
This mission is impressive, but I cannot help but wonder if the $430 million would have been better invested in developing cellulosic ethanol. Whether or not we know there is water on Mars seems pretty insignificant.
This is probably not a popular thought, but seriously, is it in our national best interests to throw money at space exploration (not to be confused with new satellites etc...) when our economy is crumbling?
I hope you realize that the money isn't actually been thrown into space and that the money stays here on earth. Where does the money go?
It pays for the materials and the wages of researchers, technicians and engineers. There are many more responsible of course but hopefully you get my drift. In the end, the money eventually makes it's way back into the economy.
People are always complaining about jobs being sent to cheap labor countries. Well... not these jobs. Most of this money stays in American soil. ..... That last comment is actually an assumption and i have no factual proof but I'm pretty sure I'm right.
To answer your question Yes. Yes it is. Why do people like you assume that if we do A we can't do B? There is a crap load of biofuels research going on. Frankly the only biofuel research that seems viable is the algae research.
And BTW, the purpose of this mission is not to find water. We found the evidence of water. We are looking for organic compounds...
And finally, $430 million dollars, is really not all that much given the scale of the US economy.
I get so sick of the "shouldn't we spend the money here where it could do some good" argument. In my experience people who genuinely feel that way turn out to be, without exception, morons.
I was going to reply to this constructively, and then I read "our economy is crumbling" and realized it would be a complete waste of my time to do anything but just let you wallow in your ignorance.
For comparison: the direct cost of the operation in 'the Iraq' is between $200M and $300M daily. Out of the two, I'd say Mars is my favorite desert.
Interesting story. Since we landed men on the moon and brought them back successfully forty years ago, with computing power that hadn't even been developed yet, I guess this represents some kind of progress.
im not impressed either although i recognise its a succesful landing and congratulations but theyve landed rovers on the surface before , seems like a decade ago atleast . at this rate they will land a man on mars after im dead .
You do know that current shuttles still launch with computers requiring punch cards?
I wonder when a decepticon will show up
There's no reason to hate on America just because I didn't mention other countries in my story.
America bankrolled this, launched it and is controlling the mission. BE PROUD AMERICANS!!! BE PROUD WORLD!
For NASA/JPL's videos of what lies ahead... http://www.jeffmccord.org/?p=198
Tsk tsk, I would have donated my camera for the mission. It has color.
LOL! That's awesome!
Actually, so does theirs. It just seems that they missed Mars and have accidentally landed on the gray planet instead of the red one.
after spending $457 million on the mission, why didnt they spend an extra $300 for a color camera?
Still awesome news though, cant wait to see what they find after the drilling.
Or a full motion HD camera?
I mean would it be kill them to ditch the Super-8 for one mission?
For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.
Just kidding, great job and kudos to NASA and JPL. To send a spacecraft 400 million miles away and touch down so perfectly with a soft landing is amazing. It fires the imagination.
Yeah thats a cool dealio no matter how you cut it.
Assuming they didn't just make it in 3ds MAx or something.
What is that sign post? makes me curious. Is this the same stage at warner bros they used to make the "moon" landing?
Credit to the NASA engineers for their success, But isn't there enough problems on earth to solve without going to mars to mess that planet up as well.
All those billions of dollars spent and not even a colour picture!
Did somebody noticed this leaked photo?!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/unsmecher/2523192233/
The first pictures of a landing are always in black and white. This is because they are a smaller file size (about 311kb) and thus take a shorter time to get back to Earth, so NASA can get a quick first look at the situation.
Thank you all for the great comments....
Again, check out what's next for this important mission and the timeline NASA is up against...
http://www.jeffmccord.org/?p=198
Can you go to Mars too? Seriously, do us all a favor.
I would like to se NASA address that post. I mean that, uh, maybe it's a surveyor marker and it's a soon to be construction site!
If they find there was primitive life forms on this planet at one time, how can that help us? Could that mean it could support some kind of life now?
I think i see the martians coming. (2 inches from left, on the horizon)
I can already see the comments on the Martian Engadget blog:
"I, for one, welcome our immobile robotic overlords."
That's one of the most exciting photos I've ever seen of Mars. Yawn. I'm sure there'll be a rush to colonize such a lush planet. That was probably just a poor landing spot. Like, if it was on earth it might have landed in the desert just a few miles from Las Vegas.
Yeh, nice work guys. I always wanted to throw away a billion dollars to get a black and white photo of sand and pebbles. Not even sure that is Mars. Might be from the same movie set they shot the Lunar Landing on.
They said that landing on Mars was the equivalent of getting a hole-in-one from 10,000 miles away. Now I'd definitely be interested in seeing Michelle Wie make that shot.
I'm sorry, is there anything else you would see fit to spend "a billion dollars" on? Space exploration, like it or not, is the future. We will have to, soon, expand and colonize.
This is the Age of Exploration all over again, and I, along with others here, are ready for it.
If you have nothing constructive to add to this thread, shut up and don't type.
I expect this from someone with a post history as colorful as yours.
@007ba
Space Exploration is ALWAYS in the national interest, ALWAYS. Those of you that don't understand why really need to go back and watch Carl Sagan's "Cosmos". It is in humanity's interest, and that is the greatest of them all.
Humanity won't goto mars, only a few selected americans, to milk it dry for profit, humanity my ass.
As soon as I can get the Lunar Dune Buggy that I got on eBay fired up and toodle over to the where the dam thing landed I can steal the batteries for my Illudium Q-36 Explosive Space Modulator. The Moon is blocking my view of Area 51 where my last earth probe went.
Marvin the Martian.
Next step: US establishes military base to fight Al Qaida on Mars.
First the secret CIA torture prisons surely.
I was impressed with Spirit and Opportunity, their longevity especially. but this time around not so much.
Technically I'm sure this has some impressive calculations and engineering involved but it's time we stopped dropping probes on Mars and did something else to further space exploration. Viking I was thirty years ago and we don't seem to be moving past it.
Either make headway in landing men on Mars or start dropping these kinds of surface probes on other worlds. Soil analysis data might be exciting for scientists but to the rest of the world this is one more dusty horizon.
-106 Fahrenheit lol what does that even mean? This is scientific so why not use Celsius or Kelvin’s, two PROPER and SCIENTIFIC ways of measuring temperature. Fahrenheit...sounds like something monkeys use. DOWN WITH IMPERIAL UP WITH METRIC!!!!!
@ CraigJ what’s it to me? Well it offends me and saddens me that humans are still idiotic enough to use the imperial system when its way “outta wack” and inaccurate as hell.
Dont you think there is a problem when the ENTIRE world uses metric and the United States thinks its so perfect and so arrogant they simply say "well... we are better then everyone else so we will still go with imperial." What’s it to me? Well to me its just another prove the point that Americans are conceded and hypocrites.
First of celcius has nothing to do with metric, and second don't call it imperial because the brits also use celcius.
And the americans probably have trouble moving to metric because they are dumb rather than arrogant - I'M KIDDING! (right?)
Incidentally, I'm told that in scientific/professional circles in america they also use C, but any mention on discovery channel and such of temperatures I only hear F, so I'm not sure that's true.
Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Engadget an American site? Makes sense to use American units then. I wonder why no one complain about "gallons" or "miles".
Obviously metric is superior. I'm pretty sure, however, that the reason we don't switch over has nothing to do with pride. I'm thinking it's just really really hard to switch over the measurements for an entire nation, especially one as large as the US.
And how would you mandate that? In America things seem to go in unexpected directions, whether technology, economy, or anything else. Call it good or bad, but it's unchangeable. The switch to electric cars will be the same way--impossible to make it all happen at once, but as individuals buy electric cars, eventually it will change.
"it's just another prove the point"
Please use the right words.
"conceited" not "conceded". And "hypocrites" has little to do with this discussion.
Care to explain how metric is more accurate? Easier to use, yes, but I can't see how it's more accurate. Fahrenheit is just as scientific--it's just tricky to make calculations with. The only reason people complain is because there's something better. After all, no one complains about having sixty seconds in a minute, though it makes tricky calculations. (which is why we should switch to base twelve! ahh, nevermind)
Although, on second thought it is true that in metric the range between freezing and boiling is a nice metric 100 and not 180 like in F.
And anyway, F was a german and it was brought to america by the brits, please don't forget that when bitching to americans :)
Oh but michael, although you weren't addressing me I must say I do on occasion lament over the division of a minute/hour in 60's and days in 24, why don't they fix that already dammit, at least define a metric time standard, even when nobody will use it I'd still like a standard.
Firstly, there is a Reply button for a reason.
"Well it offends me and saddens me that humans are still idiotic enough to use the imperial system when its way “outta wack” and inaccurate as hell."
The imperial system is in no way "outta wack" or "inaccurate as hell". The Metric system is no more accurate than the imperial system, and Celsius is no more accurate than Fahrenheit.
If the imperial system is so inaccurate please explain how it was used to build the Saturn V and get tit to the moon, or provide an example where metric is "more accurate" than imperial.
The only advantage of metric over imperial is that it is base 10, and therefore it is easier to perform calculations. This is a significant advantage, but it doesn't affect the majority of people's daily lives because most people are not doing conversions on a daily basis. It in no way has anything to do with accuracy.
Personally, I'm agnostic about it, but if it saddens you that I buy fuel in gallons than you must not have a lot to worry about.
NASA I still love you despite the fact that your American, NASA is a glimmer of hope for America's future. I salute you NASA!
And we still love you despite the face that you generalize, paint with a broad brush and, basically just insulted a whole lot of people for no good reason. Piss off.