Phoenix - Mars landing preview webcast

[Ian Curtis]

The Phoenix has landed.

Amazing!

EDIT: What's the timetable now? I know they have to wait 15 minutes before they deploy the solar array to make sure they don't get dusty, but when do they continue to recieve additional information?

[EricH]

Down safe. Now to analyze the soil!

[Marc P.]

Congratulations NASA/JPL/LM on a successful landing!

Here's to some good science!

[acdcfan259]

That was awesome when he was calling out the height. So much suspense.

[TheOtherGuy]

Congrats on the landing from the U of A!

There were so many people here that we had to open up our own laptop for extra viewing...

[Michelle692]

Originally Posted by acdcfan259

That was awesome when he was calling out the height. So much suspense.

Yes, it was! You could hear it slowing down... and I was totally sitting on the edge of my seat...

But yay! That was exciting!

[MissInformation]

... and the joy in that room more than made up for the stress! Way to go to everyone who worked on this mission!

Heidi

[artdutra04]

Congrats to the Phoenix Lander Team!

Now there's science to do, experiments to run, and research to be done.

[Joe G.]

Congratulations to all involved.

[dlavery]

The spacecraft is down, and apparently level and safe. If all has gone as planned, the solar arrays have deployed, the camera mast has deployed, and the camera is operating. Hopefully, first images should be coming in within the next few minutes during the first communications pass. These first images will be to verify array deployment, and may include some of the footprint around the lander legs. More scenic views of the surrounding landscape will come in the next few passes, later tonight and tomorrow.

-dave

[Barry Bonzack]

First images are beautiful. Way to go NASA team!

On a side note, I got to watch Phoenix launch by the VAB. Not exactly a front row seat, but it was a great memory and an amazing very early morning launch.

[dlavery]

First images are down!



Array deployment confirmed, and there is Mars! The spacecraft seems healthy. We can see the surface in the background, small conglomerations of soil and what appear to be small rocks, and at least one good image of the horizon. The entire area looks really flat, which in this case is great!

This looks like a great place to start digging. It does look like the bio-barrier has deployed, which is one of the major events that has to take place before the arm can be deployed and we can start sampling the soil.

-dave

[Joe G.]

First pictures look great. Any word on when color pictures may be coming?

Now go dig some holes!

[JaneYoung]

Originally Posted by artdutra04

Congrats to the Phoenix Lander Team!

Now there's science to do, experiments to run, and research to be done.

I wonder when rocket scientists sleep....

Congratulations all - it must be an amazing feeling.

[JoeXIII'007]

Congrats to NASA!!! It has made Wikipedia's top news story!!!

-Joe