Rehearsing Landing on Mars

This article presents the scientists from the University of Arizona's Pheonic Mars Lander mission starting to prepart for surface science operations. The lander is still 300 million miles away from its target. They will perform realistic simulated work of what will take place when the lander reaches Mars. There are about 125 researchers all preparing for the operations that will take place. They have a full-scale model of the Lander in the simulated Martian landscape, where they will be performing tests. They will only have 5 Martian days when the lander reaches Mars in May of 2008.

This lander will be looking for evidence of water and other elements of potential life. Ice samples will be heated up and soild will be collected. They want to be proficient in the tasks that need to be done in the short time they have to do it when they eventually land.