Phoenix Spacecraft

[Astronuc]

Phoenix is a robotic spacecraft which will be used for a space exploration mission to Mars. The scientists conducting the mission will use instruments aboard the Phoenix lander to search for environments suitable for microbial life on Mars, and to research the history of water there. Phoenix launched successfully on August 4, 2007 at 05:26:34 am EDT[1], and is scheduled to land on Mars on May 25, 2008. . . . .

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_%28spacecraft%29

Another successful launch!
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/index.html

 

[remcook]

this is going to be very exciting. maybe not so many pretty pictures as the rovers, but incredibly interesting science. they're basically travelling vertically instead of horizontally. hopefully everything goes alright during landing!

[Astronuc]

Well, the big news is that Phoenix landed on Mars last Sunday, May 25 (Earth Time)! 
 
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20080530.html
 
NASA's Phoenix Lander Robotic Arm Camera Sees Possible Ice
 

TUCSON, Ariz.-- Scientists have discovered what may be ice that was exposed when soil was blown away as NASA's Phoenix spacecraft landed on Mars last Sunday, May 25. The possible ice appears in an image the robotic arm camera took underneath the lander, near a footpad.

"We could very well be seeing rock, or we could be seeing exposed ice in the retrorocket blast zone," said Ray Arvidson of Washington University, St. Louis, Mo., co-investigator for the robotic arm. "We'll test the two ideas by getting more data, including color data, from the robotic arm camera. We think that if the hard features are ice, they will become brighter because atmospheric water vapor will collect as new frost on the ice.

[alokmohan]

Whats   present?

[remcook]

It is currently in its extended mission and digging a lot. They're taking lots of samples to put in the oven and chemistry lab. check out the phoenix website for lots of pictures and news articles.
http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/