Mars Phoenix Lander Given The Go

stlhawkeye writes "The BBC is running an article which indicates that NASA has green-lit Phoenix, the next Mars mission. NASA also has some details on the mission, which is centered around locating water on the red planet. Originally planned as part of the 2001 Mars Surveyor mission, the lander would launch in 2007. Among the more interesting plans for the mission is a new type of camera to photograph the landing site just before touchdown, and a robotic arm to claw through three feet of soil. The lander would touchdown near the polar ice cap. The mission is characterized as the first 'scout' mission for possible manned landing in the future."

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How NASA got funding from Bush

[interstellar_donkey]

Science advisors: Mr. President, we're going to launch a "scout" robot mission that will land near the polar ice caps on Mars.

Bush: I don't know fellas. Yeah, it sounds cool, but we're searching for Bin Laden right now. How is that going to help us?

Science advisors: (huddle together and discuss, then one clears his throat) Mr. President, if you remember in Star Wars: The Empire Strikes back, the Empire sent a probe to the Hoth System to find the location of the secret rebel base. The probe we're sending will be very similar.

Bush (excited now): That's totally awesome! So if Bin Laden is hiding on the secret base in the Hoth system, this probe will find him?
Science advsors: Er, yeah. Sure Mr. President. It . . .It'll find him.

Bush: Good. Get cracking. Now when we find out where Bin Ladin is, we have AT-ATs we can deploy, right?

Science advisors (trying not to laugh): We're working on that now, sir.

Bush: Well what are ya waiting for! Have all the money you want! Let's send those probes out!