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"Phoenix", the newest version of Mars lander, has successfully landed (about an hour ago) on the Martian surface and is beginning the process of communicating back to earth via an overhead orbiter.
All this was covered 'live' on the 'Science Channel' which not only did I not know I had but didn't know existed until earlier today. Of course there are no pictures yet but it was kind of cool watching the control room as news of the landing came thruogh. Looked kind of like a pennant celebration only with lots of eyeglasses and pocket protecters involved.
This one is a stationary unit (no rovers) but is packed with chemistry-specific gadgets and robotic arms looking for traces of water and other organics in the polar ice cap region where it landed.
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