images

Martian probe Phoenix 07/2007

by

Nasa/Novapix

Reference

e-son27-62520

Date

2007-08-05

View of the martian probe Phoenix atop of a Delta II rocket at Kennedy Space Center. The probe has been launched on Aug 4 2007. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar, permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing on Mars is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil.