Received the first radio signal from Mars

American scientists received the first radio signal from the Phoenix spacecraft after its landing near the North Pole of Mars.

According to ITAR-TASS, the first signal entered the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena (California). At present, Phoenix is ​​launching the deployment of solar batteries and a manipulator arm - the main research tool.

Soft landing on Mars is an extremely difficult operation. Of the 15 attempts made previously by different countries, only 5 have been successful. "Phoenix" to study the permafrost zone at the pole of Mars.

"Phoenix" was launched to Mars from Cape Canaveral in Florida in August 2007. For 9 months, the unit covered almost 700 million kilometers. In the “dead zone” without communication, “Phoenix” spent less than 10 minutes. The signal from Mars to Earth comes with a 15-minute delay. The device will literally "bite" into the Martian soil. To this end, it is equipped with a “hand” - a 2.3 meter long manipulator that can reach the layers of frozen water lying under the surface of the planet and take the necessary samples.
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The mission of "Phoenix" cost NASA 420 million dollars. It is designed for 90 days, but scientists hope that the “traveler” stuffed with complicated equipment with a height of 2.5 meters and a weight of 350 kilograms will be able to work on the Red Planet for one month longer than the planned period.

"Vesti.Ru"