Phoenix to launch August 3, 2007, for trip to Mars

William Atkins
Tuesday, 31 July 2007 18:58

Science - Space

Launched aboard a Delta II rocket, the Phoenix spacecraft will travel to Mars so that it can dig in the Martian soil on the planet’s arctic region. This area is especially important because water and ice is known to exist there.

Using its scientific instruments, Phoenix will search for signs of life that may have been present in the past or even primitive forms of life existing now.

To watch the Phoenix launch live on NASA TV, go to: http://www.nasa.gov/multimedia/nasatv/.

Launch is set for Friday, 8/3/2007, at 5:35 a.m. EDT at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. Phoenix will be launching from Launch Pad 17A.

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”