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Phoenix Headed for Martian North Pole in 2007

jschuur writes "After narrowing down the selections to 4 finalists, NASA has chosen the Phoenix Mars lander design for its 2007 Scout Mission to the planet Mars. Phoenix, a joint project between the University of Arizona and Planetary Laboratory was designed after the doomed 1999 Mars Polar Lander and recycles much of its design and instrument ideas. A staggering $325 million grant was awarded to the University of Arizona for the project, which will also include Canadian participation. Phoenix is scheduled to land on Mars in May of 2008."

17 of 175 comments (clear)

  1. Stupid joke by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Don't you mean the Firebird Mars Lander?

    1. Re:Stupid joke by acehole · · Score: 3, Funny

      Shhh! you wanna get sued?!

      --
      Be you Admins? nay, we are but lusers!
  2. wuh? by selfabuse · · Score: 3, Funny

    obligitory "they're sending a browser/database to Mars?!" comment

    1. Re:wuh? by DiscoDave_25 · · Score: 2, Funny

      The next instalment of the file sharers plot to dodge the RIAA: Our servers on Mars - subpoena that!

  3. tracking by DaHat · · Score: 4, Funny

    ... please let this one incorporate better tracking so they can monitor it all the way to the ground... just in case this like a few other notable Martian craft go plunging into the ground at around 300 mph... we can at least see where and how it hit.

    1. Re:tracking by Rogerborg · · Score: 1, Funny

      >notable Martian craft go plunging into the ground at around 300 mph

      mph? What's that in bushels per hectare? How ironic that you sneer at impacting craft when you can't even be bothered to write metres per second.

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    2. Re:tracking by AllUsernamesAreGone · · Score: 1, Funny

      Bah, I pour scorn on your criticism when you can't even be bothered to promote the use of attoparsec per microfortnight as a measure of speed!

  4. Re:unfair... by the_mind_ · · Score: 0, Funny

    So NASA can call thier project 'Phoenix' but Mozilla can NOT?

    Didn't you hear? They have renamed it to "Firebird"!

    --
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  5. just for a change... by iainl · · Score: 4, Funny

    Rather than make a firebird gag, lets point out that they are delivering it there because the martians called and requested it.

    Yes folks, they placed an "Order of the Phoenix".

    B'dumph T'sssh.

    --
    "I Know You Are But What Am I?"
    1. Re:just for a change... by error502 · · Score: 1, Funny

      Yes folks, they placed an "Order of the Phoenix".

      Not only that, but they were actually willing to pay 325 million dollars for shipping.

  6. doesn't matter to me by selfabuse · · Score: 4, Funny

    heh, I never liked Arizona anyway.

  7. Planetary Collision by Captain+Large+Face · · Score: 1, Funny

    There was I thinking that Phoenix, AZ and the Martian North Pole were going to collide. Damn those Martians and their gravity ray!

  8. It's funny, laugh by Rosyna · · Score: 1, Funny

    They are sending something from Tucson (that's "Two Saun", not "Tuck Sun") to Mars and calling it Phoenix. It's not a jab at ASU because that's in Tempe (That's "Tem pee"). Hey, we name our cities with fine names here in AZ. It's 5:32 AM in Phoenix and only 89 degrees so far.

  9. Top 10 Reasons to Send Phoenix to Mars by AtariAmarok · · Score: 4, Funny

    10. That old 1981 pontiac is now so rusty that even the junk yards won't take it.

    9. Cyclops and Wolverine have been fighing over her for 26 years no. Enough is enough, get her out of the picture.

    8. As part of the deal for acquiring the Phoenix Suns, the Martian sports magnate had to buy the whole city.

    7. The NHL Phoenix Coyotes got tired of all the ribbing about having a hockey team where there is no ice. The Martian poles way outfreeze Canada. Put that in your back-bacon, Maple Leafs!

    6. They wanted to keep those 133 degree summer temperatures. All they have to do now is replace the "+" with a "-".

    5. It's part of a plot by Scottsdale to take over the state.

    4. "Project Phoenix" wants to shut down by finding Phoenix as the example of life on another planet.

    3. It's punishment for the city name violating one of J.K. Rowling's book title trademarks.

    2. Get rid of it already, it is too confusing to remember whether or not the O goes before the E.

    1. "Because it blocks my view of Tucson".

    --
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  10. Re:naming problem by Bob+McCown · · Score: 1, Funny


    Its a floor wax AND a dessert topping!
    </shimmer>

  11. Proof of alien life... by pir8garth · · Score: 4, Funny

    Proof of alien life was captured on film; much to the surprise of the people at NASA, a careless martian forgot to throw away his bottle of Aquafina...

    --
    Something clever...
  12. Re:Sample Return by kubrick · · Score: 2, Funny

    The big advance I'm waiting for is the Martian mission to Earth.

    "Where's the kaboom? There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom!"

    --
    deus does not exist but if he does