The Phoenix has landed
 

Looks like this one didn't become another spaceship wreck on Mars like all the polar landers did.

They got a signal from the Phoenix lander a little while ago saying that it had survived.

Should be interesting seeing what it finds digging in the dirt. |virgohippy|

Neat stuff. I was trying to find out how long it takes a craft to get to Mars but got tired of surfing that site. Anyone know how long the trip lasts? I know I've heard it from the first Mars landing but have forgotten. Something like a year and a half?

10 months
I remember decades ago when I was in elementary school NASA was estimating it would take about 4 years. Looks like we have improved a bit.

It depends on if you send the craft when Mars is at it closes since the distance between the two planets varies a lt throughout the year.

I seem to remember that it takes nine months when it is at its closes and years when it is at its furtherest .

Radio takes about fifteen minutes.

I'm a bit surprised that this lander doesn't have wheels or anything to move about.

Hell, nine or ten months is doable for a human. What are they waiting for? Oh, I guess it was this soft landing they wanted to test. OK, I see an American on Mars within 5 years. YEEEEHAAAAAAW!

IU was just watching the pics that it has already sent back home, seems like there's not much action on mars, no little green guys of any kind :)

talk about a high tech backhoe

Thats cool stuff.

Very kewl.. no little green men??.. maybe women are from Mars and men are from Venus.

Kinda looks like the desert out by Valley of Fire..

I can see it now - a fucking Walmart on every corner.