The Phoenix Mars Lander will be the first human probe to explore either of the cold poles of the planet Mars.

The mission of the Phoenix Mars Lander is to learn more about the history of Mars, and whether life ever existed on it, so that the United States will be better prepared for future manned missions to Earth’s neighbor. NASA scientists are interested as to whether complex organic molecules on Mars could have once evolved into simple life forms.

The Phoenix will land with thrusters, unlike many of the recent landings of spacecraft on Mars. Older missions, such as the Viking 1 and 2 craft, used this form of landing mechanism. However, more recent landings (such as the Mars Exploration Rovers (MER) Opportunity and Spirit) set down with the use of protective shells around the rovers, along with airbags, to isolate them from the sudden impact with the Martian surface.

For more comprehensive information on the NASA mission, go to the March 3, 2007 iTWire article “NASA Phoenix lander readies itself for new life on Mars”

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