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.

This could be one of the biggest and best opportunities NASA has had in recent years. A team of engineers have been able to build and design a small test spacecraft based on a modular design. This spacecraft could eventually be used to land on the Moon, Mars, or just orbit Earth. What make it so notable is its modular design. Instead of having to build 5 different spacecraft for 5 different missions, NASA could use this spacecraft for all 5 missions by just outfitting it with the equipment needed for the particular mission, in the end saving NASA significant development time and budget resources. William Marshall, one of the team members working on the project had this to say:

This spacecraft will allow NASA to launch more missions, for less money. In the 1960's landing on the Moon took a team of thousands of people. Today that same task can be done with 30.

With how strapped NASA is for money nowadays, any idea, prototype, or possibility that could save NASA money would be welcomed and this design is definitely good for that goal.

Exclusive Video: Meet the Spacecraft That Could Save NASA a Fortune [wired.com]

Reports saying NASA was going to leave Mars Rover Spirit to die due to budget cuts and Opportunity to have decreased exploration tasks have thankfully been disproved or rescinded making scientists and space enthusiasts breathing a sigh of relief. NASA, having to now deal with a $4 million budget cut supposedly was planning on scuddling Spirit, but according to a press release, NASA has changed their minds and are now saying that both rovers will continue to be used with no plans to turn either one off.

For those of you that aren't aware, NASA has two twin rovers on Mars, Spirit and Opportunity. Both were origanlly slated for 90 day missions, both rovers are still functional with over 1400 days on the surface. The pictures and data they continue to send back are simply amazing and are of tremendous value to scientists on Earth seeking to discover more about our closest neighbor.

Space Shuttle Atlantis touched down safely at 9:07am EST this morning at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Atlantis' landing marks the successful completion of STS-122 which saw the first new laboratory added to the station in 7 years. Columbus, Europe's contribution to the International Space Station was attached during the mission's 3 spacewalks.

What's interesting to note is the Destiny laboratory, and until this mission, the ISS' only laboratory, was launched February 7, 2001 aboard Atlantis, 7 years to the day before Columbus launched also aboard Atlantis.

After delaying the launch for 2 months because of faulty sensors in the fuel tank, Space Shuttle Atlantis blasted off yesterday, February 7, 2008 on its 11-12 day mission to deliver Europe's Columbus Laboratory to the International Space Station.

The good news about this is that pending any other technical problems, NASA should be able to fit in 5 more launches this year as they are trying to complete the ISS by the 2010 deadline. One of the 5 missions left for this year, will be Atlantis' final mission, and the final servicing of the Hubble Telescope, tentatively scheduled for September 2008.