NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander touched down on the red planet on May 25, 2008 landing in the Martian arctic.
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Mission Elapsed Time on Mars
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The three-legged probe launched on Aug. 4, 2007 on a mission to sample Mars ice and determine if the Martian arctic could have once supported primitive life. The $420 million spacecraft carries a shovel-tipped robotic arm, ovens and a wet chemistry lab to study the icy surface of Mars for about three months.
Click here for SPACE.com's landing coverage.
Below is SPACE.com's
resource page for NASA's Phoenix mission. The stories are presented in reverse chronological order
with the most recent updates at the top. This page was last updated on October 15, 2008.
Robotic Life in the Martian Arctic
Phoenix Lander Survives Martian Dust Storm
NEW YORK - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander weathered its first dust storm on the red planet this past weekend, though the dust did lower the lander's solar power and put the brakes on some of its planned activities.
Frozen Death Looms for Phoenix Mars Lander
After more than four months on the arctic plains of the red planet, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's days are finally numbered.As the sun begins to set for the frigid Martian winter, the spacecraft will lose its energy supply, freeze and eventually fall into a mechanical coma from which it will likely never wake up.
Phoenix Lander Scoops Dirt from Under Martian Rock
As fall creeps up on the arctic plains of Mars, NASA's Phoenix Lander is using the few weeks it has left to gather as many samples of Martian dirt for analysis as it can.
Listening In: Lander to Record Mars Sounds
NASA scientists hope to hear what it sounds like on the surface of Mars for the first time when they attempt to switch on the Phoenix Mars Lander's microphone in the next week or two, mission leaders announced on Monday.
Snowfall Seen on Mars
Even as its mission winds down, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has spotted snow falling from the Martian sky.
Mars Lander Aims to Look Under a Rock
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is going to try something new pushing aside a Martian rock and peeking at what's underneath, mission scientists said Monday.
NASA Extends Mars Lander Mission Again
LOS ANGELES (AP) NASA is extending the Phoenix Mars mission again. The three-legged spacecraft has been digging trenches near the Martian north pole since landing on May 25 and its work was supposed to end this month. Phoenix is studying whether the site could have been favorable for microbial life to emerge.
Dust Devils Photographed in Martian Arctic
Dust devils raging across the arctic plains of Mars were caught on film by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander.
NASA Scrambles for Samples as Sun Sets on Mars Lander
As winter's icy grip prepares to take hold of the northern plains of Mars, NASA scientists are scrambling to fill all of the instruments aboard the Phoenix Mars Lander with samples of Martian dirt before the sun sets below the horizon and the spacecraft loses its energy source.
Mars Water Mystery Surfaces
New data from Mars' surface is puzzling NASA scientists: A fork-like probe on the Phoenix Mars Lander has sensed changes in humidity in the Martian air, but finds the dirt below perplexingly dry.
Very Short Movie: The Clouds of Mars
There's a new Martian movie, though it's not quite feature-length.
90 Days on Mars: Phoenix Lander Sends Martian Postcard
As the sun dips lower in the Martian sky with each passing day, NASA's solar-powered Phoenix Mars Lander took time this week to send a postcard of sorts to scientists on Earth after more than three months studying the red planet.
Mars Lander Digs Deeper Into Mars
For its next trick, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander will dig a trench in the Martian surface three times deeper than any it has dug so far, as it completes its original three month-mission and embarks upon its extended mission.
Mars Lander Samples All Layers of Surface
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has scooped up another sample of Martian dirt into one of its onboard laboratory ovens. The sample will complete a profile of all depths of the surface layer of Phoenix's arctic landing site.
Mars Lander Just Keeps Digging
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has spent the last few weeks digging new trenches in its landing area, looking for new materials to analyze in its instruments and examining the soil and subsurface layer of water ice.
NASA Gets First Image of a Mars Dust Particle
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has taken its first-ever picture of a single particle of rusty Martian dust with one of its microscopes.
Mars Lander Gets Another Sample In Oven
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has successfully dumped another sample of surface dirt into its ovens for analysis, mission scientists reported this weekend.
Scientists Set Record Straight on Martian Salt Find
The chemical NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander found in a sample of Martian dirt, as announced on Monday, may not be harmful to any potential life there and could in fact be a boon to it, mission scientists said today.
New Data Suggest Mars Soil Not As Life-Friendly As Thought
New results from NASA's Phoenix Mars lander suggest that the surface layers of the Martian arctic region may not be as friendly to life as initial results suggested, NASA said today.
NASA Scientist: Reports of Mars Life Finding Are 'Bogus'
Rumblings in the media suggest some intriguing findings from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission that relate to the question of life, specifically whether it could have survived on Mars in the past.
NASA Now Looking for Life's Building Blocks on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander may have found water ice on the red planet, but it still has a lot of work left to do to answer the question that has been on scientists' minds for decades: Has Mars ever been capable of harboring life?
It's Confirmed: Water Ice on Mars!
NASA Now Looking for Life's Building Blocks on Mars
With confirmation of water ice, Phoenix still has work to do to see if Mars habitable.
Water Ice on Mars Confirmed
Phoenix mission extended one month as lander gets first ice sample, confirms water.
Touching and Tasting Martian Water
Cracks Appear In Ice Under Mars Lander
Close-up images show cracks have developed in hard layer under Phoenix lander.
Mars Dirt Found Surprisingly Sticky
Stickiness of icy dirt sample forces Phoenix to dry dirt again.
Living on Mars Time: Scientists Suffer Perpetual Jet Lag
Phoenix team lives on Mars schedule with lander, like being constantly jet-lagged.
Mars Lander to Try New Scoop Tactic
NASA will try again Sunday night to to get some dirt into the Phoenix Mars Lander's onboard oven, this time using a revised method.
Mars Lander Glitch Prevents Dirt-Baking Effort
A scoop of icy martian soil was collected by NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's robotic arm but is stuck on the scoop.
Unique Habitat Found Inside Earth
Researchers discovered unique microbes deep beneath the Earth's surface.
Mars Lander Team Applies for Mission Extension
Phoenix Mars Lander's team is looking to extend the spacecraft's mission on Mars.
Mars Lander Prepares for Icy Sample
Mission scientists to test plans to deliver ice sample to Phoenix instrument.
Mars Lander Pulls All-Nighter
Phoenix Mars Lander schedule extended, taking atmospheric measurements.
Mars Lander Prepares for Second Ice Sample
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander will scoop up another test sample of ice.
Mars Lander Successfully Collects Ice Sample
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander successfully used its rasp and scoop to collect samples of Martian ice.
NASA Makes Shaved Ice on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has begun to use its motorized rasp tool to grind into the hard ice on Mars.
Mars Lander Exposes More Ice
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander instructed to extend trench to expose more ice.
NASA Sticks a Fork in Mars
Phoenix Mars Lander sticks fork-like probe into Martian surface, uses second microscope for first time.
Mars Lander's Heat Shield Spotted From Space
New analysis of HiRISE image reveals heat shield, color swaths.
Mars Lander Runs into Tough Digging
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has been having trouble scraping dirt into its oven.
Mars Lander Works on New Dirt Sample
Phoenix put second sample in wet chemistry lab, will compare results to first test.
Mars Lander's Next Bake Test Could Be Its Last
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander's next whiff of Martian dirt could be its last.
The Future of Space Robots
Future robots may cooperatively explore alien worlds.
Phoenix Scrapes Up Water Ice Samples
Phoenix uses rasp to scrape ice samples, will deliver to onboard instruments.
Mars Lander Scrapes Icy Soil in Wonderland
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander scrapes against ice layer in Wonderland digging area.
Minerals Needed for Life Found on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander found evidence of minerals essential to life.
Ice on Mars!
Phoenix Lander Prepares to Taste Martian Dirt
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is gearing up to perform its first taste test of red planet's arctic dirt.
Proof! Water Ice Found on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has "found proof" of water ice on Mars, scientists said.
Mars Scientists: It Must Be Ice
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has found signs of water ice on the red planet.
Scientists Think Mars Lander Exposed Ice Crumbs
Scientists believe NASA's Phoenix Mars lander exposed bits of ice while recently digging a trench in the soil of the Martian arctic.
Growing Pain Glitches
Mars Probe Loses Some Data in Memory Glitch
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander lost some unessential science data it gathered because of a memory storage problem.
Mars Robot to Dig Deeper
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander began digging a new trench on the Red Planet.
Robot Finds Mars Dry So Far
Phoenix analyzes first soil sample, finds no water so far.
Phoenix Gets Close-up Look at Mars Dirt
Phoenix uses microscope to peer at soil particles; exposes more white material.
Mars Microbes Could Survive with Natural Antifreeze
New ground tests will help Phoenix detect signs of life on Mars.
Mars Soil Sample Finally Delivered to Phoenix Instrument
Soil sample stuck at entrance of instrument finally falls through.
Clumpy Martian Soil Refuses to Budge
Scientists still unable to deliver first soil sample to lander instrument.
Martian Soil Sample Clogs Phoenix Probe's Oven
The Phoenix probe's first Martian soil sample is stuck at its oven entrance.
Phoenix Takes First Martian Soil Sample
Phoenix scoops up first sample of Martian soil for analysis by one of its instruments.
Comm Glitch Delays Mars Digging
A glitch with the Mars Odyssey orbiter has delayed Phoenix digging for soil samples.
At Home in the Martian Arctic
Stowaways Could Ruin Mars Missions
Contamination of a Mars spacecraft might lead to a false detection of life.
Phoenix Ready to Scoop Up Martian Soil Samples
After a successful second "dig and dump", Phoenix will start taking soil samples.
Future of Mars Exploration: What's Next?
Two rovers, one American, one European, and a probe to Phobos slated through next decade.
Phoenix Sampling of Martian Soil Delayed
NASA scientists delayed the Phoenix Mars Lander's sample gathering for one sol, or Martian day, they announced on Tuesday, in order to practice moving the craft's robotic arm and to deal with a slight glitch with one of the lander's instruments.
Phoenix Robot Digs into Martian Soil for First Time
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has successfully stretched out its robotic arm to scratch at the Martian soil for the first time, mission scientists said Monday.
New Images From Phoenix Lander May Show Martian Ice
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander may have already caught its first glimpse of Martian ice less than a week after arriving at its new red planet home.
Phoenix Images Underbelly, Encounters Instrument Glitch
TUCSON, Ariz. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander sent back images of the blind spot underneath it today as mission scientists gear up for the craft's robotic arm to touch the planet's soil for the first time. The spacecraft also encountered its first glitch, with a short circuit in one of its instruments, mission scientists said at a briefing on Friday.
No One Toys With NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander
NASA's Phoenix spacecraft became the first lander to descend onto the red planet using thrusters since twin Viking missions in 1976, but - unlike past Martian missions - there are no toy or model versions available for kids to recreate the event at home.
Phoenix Lander Stretches Arm, Surveys Martian Arctic
TUCSON, Ariz. - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has flexed its robotic arm for the first time and taken a fish-eye panorama of its surroundings, mission scientists said Thursday.
Orbiter Catches Sounds from Phoenix Mars Descent
A European spacecraft caught sounds from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander during its screaming Sunday descent to the red planet's arctic surface.
Phoenix Mars Lander to Flex Robotic Arm
PASADENA, Calif. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is set to flex its robotic digging arm for the first time after a one-day delay due to a communications glitch, mission scientists said Wednesday.
BLOG: Lessons on Losing Mars Bets from NASA
Phoenix project manager Barry Goldstein made a deal with an expert parachutist, in the early stages of the Phoenix mission, about four-and-a-half years ago, that if the probe landed safely on the surface and completed its 90-day mission, he would do a tandem jump to Earth.
Mars Orbiter Catches Snapshot of Phoenix Probe's Landing
PASADENA, Calif. A spacecraft orbiting Mars has photographed the Phoenix Mars Lander on the surface of the red planet, NASA scientists announced today.
Mars Orbiter Catches Snapshot of Phoenix Probe's Landing
PASADENA, Calif. A NASA spacecraft circling the red planet caught a stunning snapshot of the Phoenix Mars Lander and its deployed parachute as it plummeted through the Martian atmosphere for a successful Sunday landing, NASA scientists announced Monday. It marks the first time that one spacecraft has imaged another's final descent onto another planet.
Image of the Day: Phoenix Lander's Memorial Day on Mars
A NASA orbiter caught this view of the Phoenix Mars Lander parachuting toward the Martian arctic surface on May 25, 2008.
NASA: Phoenix Spacecraft in Good Health After Mars Landing
PASADENA, Calif. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is in fine health after its unprecedented landing in the Martian arctic Sunday as mission scientists turn their attention to the craft's main goal: to explore the layers of water ice under the frozen soil.
Phoenix Spacecraft Beams Home First Images of Martian Arctic
PASADENA, Calif. - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has returned its first images from the surface of Mars, showing that the probe's vital solar arrays have successfully deployed and giving scientists their first up-close glimpse of the Martian arctic surface.
Touchdown! Phoenix Spacecraft Lands on Mars
PASADENA, Calif. - NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander survived a fiery plunge through the Martian atmosphere Sunday to make a three-point landing on the red planet's arctic plains, where it beamed back its first images to the delight of mission scientists.
Mars or Bust
Phoenix Spacecraft Set for Risky Mars Landing Today
PASADENA, Calif. The big day has finally arrived: After 10 months of spaceflight, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is headed for its long-awaited attempt to touch down in the arctic region of the red planet later today.
BLOG: Humans Can't Go to Mars, But Names Can
Humans may not be able to travel to Mars yet, but we our names can. The Planetary Society, co-founded by the legendary Carl Sagan, has assembled a list of 250,000 names on a DVD that is now attached to NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander, set to touch down on the red planet later today.
BLOG: How to Kill the Mars Landing Jitters: Peanuts
Tomorrow's the big day, when NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander attempts to touch down after a nail-biting seven-minute descent through the atmosphere that has mission scientists on edge. At a press conference at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory today, a few of those scientists described how they're feeling with just over 24 hours until Phoenix enters Mars' atmosphere.
Nerves Run High for Spacecraft's Sunday Mars Landing
PASADENA, Calif. Excitement and nerves are both running high among NASA scientists as they prepare for the Phoenix Mars Lander's planned Sunday arrival at the red planet, mission scientists said today.
Phoenix Mars Lander: Risky Business on the Red Planet
DENVER, Colorado Getting the Phoenix Mars Lander down and dirty on the red planet is an engineering saga stretching out over a decade. Its mission "raises from the ashes" a spacecraft and instruments from two prior tries to reach the red planet.
Target: Martian Arctic
BLOG: An Inside Look at NASA's Mars Image Central
After NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander makes it nerve-wracking descent through the Martian atmosphere on Sunday and hopefully makes a safe landing on the surface of the red planet, mission scientists will not only be waiting with bated breath for the first beeps of radio signals from the craft, but also the first images it will send.
Arctic Plains of Mars Await Robot's Sunday Landing
When NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander sets down in the Martian arctic on Sunday, it will open a new, icy frontier for scientists back on Earth.
Mars Weather Looks Good for Phoenix Probe's Sunday Landing
PASADENA, Calif. It's going to be a nice day on Mars when NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander makes its planned touchdown in the northern plains of the red planet on Sunday, mission engineers said Thursday.
Hydrothermal Vents on Mars Could Have Supported Life
Scientists have found signs that water may once have gurgled up through the Martian soil in hydrothermal vents similar to those in Yellowstone National Park.
Ancient Flash Floods Sculpted Earth, Mars
A megaflood seems to have scoured a canyon on Earth which, interestingly, looks a lot like canyons on Mars. And that new conclusion, researchers say, could help figure out whether there was ever life on Mars.
Phoenix Mars Lander: Step-by-Step Martian Landing Guide
After nearly 10 months speeding across 422 million miles (679 million km), the Phoenix spacecraft is just days away from plunging into the Martian atmosphere on Sunday to land near the north pole of Mars.
Phoenix Mars Lander: Schedule of Major Landing Events
This rundown of major mission events for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is a detailed events schedule for the spacecraft's planned landing in the Martian arctic on May 25, 2008.
How to Hunt for Martian Ice
The Phoenix Mars Lander set to land Sunday may represent a clean slate for NASA's past failed or canceled Martian missions, but its technological lineage also resembles Frankenstein's monster.
NASA's Phoenix Robot to Dig Martian Arctic
A soft touchdown in Mars' northern arctic plains set for Sunday is just the first step for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. If the dust clears, solar-power arrays deploy and all equipment checks out, Phoenix will then have some digging to do.
BLOG: NASA Mars Orbiter: Ringside View of Phoenix Entry?
The May 25th entry into Mars' atmosphere by the Phoenix lander may be under the watchful lens of NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO).
Investigating the Mysteries of Mars
With the dozens of orbiters, landers and rovers that scientists have sent to Mars, you would think we'd have a good handle on just what makes our planetary neighbor tick. But even with all the pictures snapped of its rocky terrain, all the measurements taken from orbit and the soil samples scooped up, we've still barely begun to solve the puzzle that is the red planet.
Bumpy Road to Mars, Part 1
I visited Richard Quinn's lab at NASA Ames Research Center to learn more about his work on Earth and on Mars. Richard Quinn and John Marshall are both scientists in the Carl Sagan Center at the SETI Institute; they are instrument scientists and team members on NASA's soon-to-land Mars Phoenix Lander.
How NASA's Phoenix Will Land on Mars
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander aims to not flame out when it descends to the arctic surface of the red planet in less than two weeks.
Phoenix Spacecraft on Track for Mars Landing
With just 12 days to go until its Mars arrival, NASA's Phoenix lander is functioning well and on course to be the first mission to land in the frigid, arctic regions of the red planet, NASA officials said today.
Scientists Revisit Mars Sample Return Plans
International planning is under way to reinvigorate plans for a Mars sample return mission, with researchers assessing science priorities and strategies to maximize the scientific output from such an undertaking.
Phoenix Lander Takes Aim at Martian Arctic
NASA's Mars-bound Phoenix spacecraft is gearing up for a landmark landing near the martian north pole this month to find out whether the region could have once supported microbial life.
Earth Set to Invade Mars
Countless science fictions books and films have shown Martian armies attacking the Earth, marching across our planet and enslaving or eradicating any humans they come across. Obviously this hasn't happened ... yet!
Lander Zeroes in On Martian North Pole
NASA's next spacecraft to visit Mars has changed course to zero in on its red planet landing site.
Mars Orbiters Prepare to Watch Phoenix Landing
Three robotic paparazzi orbiting the planet Mars are adjusting their flight paths to track an incoming NASA probe due to land on the red planet in late May.
New Images Used to Pick Mars Lander Site
Scientists are getting a new view of Mars thanks to color images and a color movie of the Martian landscape created by painstakingly combining images snapped through different color filters.
Next Stop, Mars
Phoenix: Here's the Scoop
NASA's Phoenix Mars lander continues its journey to the red planet following its Aug. 4, 2007 liftoff, and is checking out its equipment along the way.
Phoenix Spacecraft Passes In-Flight Tests
Several crucial devices aboard NASA's Mars-bound Phoenix lander have passed in-flight testing.
Mars Phoenix Spacecraft Corrects Course
NASA's Mars-bound Phoenix lander completed its first and biggest course correction planned during the spacecraft's journey.
Space Library Heads Towards Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. Carl Sagan, Arthur C. Clarke, H.G. Wells, Kim Stanley Robinson and other greats in science fiction hitched a ride to Mars todayin a digital form, at least.
NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander in Good Health After Launch
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- A NASA probe bound to dig into the icy Arctic Circle of Mars is in good health after a picturesque predawn launch, mission managers said Saturday.
Red Planet Rising: NASA's Phoenix Probe Launches Towards Mars
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander lit up the predawn Florida sky Saturday, launching spaceward on a mission to determine whether the planet could have once supported primitive life.
Aiming for Mars: NASA's Phoenix Lander Prepares to Fly
A NASA spacecraft wielding a trench-digging robotic arm is poised for a Saturday launch towards the north pole of Mars to find out whether the icy region sports an environment suitable for microbial life.
NASA's Phoenix Mars Probe Set for Saturday Launch
A new NASA probe destined to dig into the arctic northern plains of Mars is on track for its planned Saturday launch, mission managers said Thursday.
Martian Dust: Evidence for Water and Life?
A Phoenix has reappeared at the SETI Institute, this time in the form of NASA's next Mars lander, which has the involvement of Dr. John Marshall in the science team.
NASA Delays Mars Probe's Launch, Eyes Shuttle Cabin Leak
NASA delayed the planned launch of its Phoenix Mars lander by 24 hours Tuesday as engineers trace an apparent cabin leak aboard the shuttle Endeavour for a separate spaceflight.
A New Phoenix Rises From Failure's Ashes
The Other Phoenix
The world may be abuzz these days with the release of the movie "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix," but there is a real magical Phoenix in the news.
NASA Spacecraft Set to Study Mars' Icy North Pole
Preparations are on track for the launch of a new NASA Mars lander early next month to search for subsurface water and potential life in the red planet's arctic northern region.
Phoenix Mars Lander Prepared to Weather Dust Storms
Scientists handling the next Mars mission say the only way a significant dust storm like the one raging on Mars in recent days could seriously harm their spacecraft is if one were to suddenly whip up during the critical descent phase.
The Phoenix Has Landed: Mars Probe Airlifted to KSC from Colorado
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. -- NASA's next mission to Mars has made one small step for a robot - safely arriving here in Florida via a cargo aircraft. The Phoenix Mars lander is now undergoing its first checkouts for a sendoff to the red planet in August.
Phoenix Mars Lander: The Search For A Safe Haven
As NASA prepares its Mars Phoenix spacecraft for an August launch, program officials are still trying to find a suitable landing site.
Detailed Look at the Next Mars Lander
DENVER, Colorado-NASA's next mission to the red planet-the Phoenix Mars Lander-is a true wedding of technology with planetary exploration: Something old, something new...something borrowed and something blue.
Phoenix Mars Lander: Getting Down and Dirty On the Red Planet
DENVER, Colorado - The next Mars lander is undergoing assembly and testing, being readied for departure next year to explore the martian arctic. This probe is equipped to dig deep, quite literally, into an ongoing mystery--the history of water on Mars and the planet's potential as an extraterrestrial address for life.
Phoenix Mars Lander: Strong Arming The Red Planet
BOULDER, Colorado--NASA's next Mars lander, the Phoenix mission, will head for the northern arctic region of the red planet in 2007, not only ready to dig for subsurface water ice but also probe for habitats of present day life.
NASA May Launch Phoenix Mars in 2007
LOS ANGELES (AP) -- NASA is moving ahead with plans to put a long-armed lander on Mars' icy north pole to search for clues for water and possible signs of life, the space agency said Thursday.
Mars Master Plan: NASA Outlines New Approach
As the Spirit and Opportunity rovers continue their extended studies of Mars, NASA's Mars program appears headed for change. The shift will be driven by a variety of factors including technical and budget issues, as well as a "rebalancing" of science objectives.
NASA Picks Mars Lander For First Scout Mission
NASA selected today a new lander mission to explore the high northern latitudes of Mars. That zone is thought be the site of a rich reservoir of sub-surface ice.
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