NASA's scientists can finally rest easy as the Mars Phoenix Lander has landed successfully on Mars. Even in today's world, landing something on a distant planet isn't easy, and statistically, 55% of Mars missions have ended in failure. Now this is not to overshadow the successes both NASA and other space agencies have had over the years, with the most notable mission probably being the Viking missions and the current Spirit and Opportunity Rovers. The Phoenix Lander is the first to land near Mars polar icecaps and its mission is to drill into the surface to look for signs of life, both past and present. Hopefully the initial success will carry over to a full successful mission.

Tags: mars, nasa, phoenix, space