On This Day in Space! Aug. 4, 2007: Phoenix Mars Lander launched to Red Planet

On Aug. 4, 2007, NASA launched its Phoenix Mars Lander on a mission to touch down on Mars.

The robotic spacecraft was designed to search for environments that could be suitable for microbial life and to study the history of water on the Red Planet. It lifted off at about 5:30 a.m. ET from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida and spent almost 10 months making its way to Mars.

When Phoenix arrived at the Red Planet, it landed farther north than any spacecraft had ever gone before. Not only did Phoenix find water-ice, but it also found what appeared to be small globs of liquid water.

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4 Comments Comment from the forums

The Exoplanets Channel 13 December 2019 17:13

Very interesting
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Arc Light 17 July 2020 14:59

Just so you know, the X-15 took off from Edwards AFB under the wing of a B-52 & was airdropped over Delamar Dry Lake, Nevada. The flight to the altitude record wasn't planned, but the rocket engine burned for two seconds longer than expected. The test flight was scheduled to peak at 280,000', but actually reached 314, 750' due to the extra rocket burn time.
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Fourth Root 18 July 2020 00:34

Misleading wording. Bob White did not set the world altitude record on July 17th, 1962. Four Astronauts and two cosmonauts had flown higher prior to his flight. One could say it was the highest manned flight of a winged craft. But that's not the wording that was used.
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DrRaviSharma 20 July 2020 13:16

On this date in 1969, I was part of NASA Apollo Team

Contributed to Experiments in orbit and on Surface of Moon (ALSEP) etc.also trained astronauts

Studied containation on and ouside Spacecraft.

The Moon gave me employment to work for 5 Years on exciting Human Space flight Programs Skylab, Planning of Space Station and Space Shuttle

See My picture taken with Buzz Aldrin in 2009
https://www.space.com/india-moon-landing-not-a-failure.html
I received Apollo Achievement Award from NASA dated July 20, 1969.

Thanks Hanneke Weitering for today's Historic post

Ravi
Dr. Ravi Sharma
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