CHICAGO, IL -- Two days ago NASA successfully landed the Phoenix on the surface of Mars in the northern arctic circle. With a historic failure rate of over 50%, congratulations to NASA and the University of Arizona, who beat the odds and used a combination of a heat shield (friction), parachutes, and thrusters to slow the craft from a whopping 12,500 mph to zero in only 7 minutes. What makes it all the more impressive is that the entire entry, descent, and landing happened without the control of any human, since the signals coming from Mars takes 15 minutes to get back to Earth. Since landing, both solar panels successfully unfolded giving Phoenix 100% power, and one of the on-board cameras began shooting pictures of the landscape (including the one above). Later today or tomorrow NASA expects Phoenix to begin using its crane to dig for ice (which is believed to be just under the surface). Check out more at: http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/main/
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