Explanation:
This
flat horizon stretches across the red planet as seen by the Phoenix
spacecraft after yesterday's landing on Mars.
Touching
down shortly after 7:30pm Eastern Time, Phoenix made
the first successful
soft landing on Mars, using rockets to control its final speed, since the
Viking
landers in 1976.
Launched in August of 2007,
Phoenix has now made the northernmost landing
and is intended to explore the Martian arctic's potentially
ice-rich soil.
The lander has
returned
images and data initially indicating
that it is in excellent shape after a nearly
flawless descent.
News
updates will be available throughout the day.
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