Mars Phoenix Lander Given The Go 193
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."
Late Breaking News (Score:4, Funny)
Panic swept through the community today as the Council of Elders confirmed the rumours that the sinister blue plane third from our star is preparing to send yet another of its mechanized invaders to ravage our peaceful world.
K'Breel, Speaker for the Council, stressed yet again that there was no cause for alarm:
When asked to comment upon an alleged image [aceldama.com] of the latest invader, circulated by a cabal of rogue scientists, K'Breel declined.
Will Phoenix be renamed ... (Score:5, Funny)
I dont get it ... (Score:5, Funny)
New camera? (Score:3, Funny)
Further late breaking news (Score:5, Funny)
This was quickly followed up by another response "Actually we've found another mission with the name Firebird, so uhhh.... we're gonna settle with FireFox".
And a few moments later, "OK, fuckit, we're just gonna call it WammyJoMammy. Take that ya name hoggin bastards"
Re:I dont get it ... (Score:4, Funny)
Interesting question (Score:3, Funny)
You've obviously never been to Houston in July. Phoenix is hot, but it's a dry heat.
But your post raises serious issues. Why is NASA, an arm of the US Government, sending out aggressive missions to US cities? It really almost sounds silly, and would be funny if it weren't such a serious concern.
I believe this is all a sham, and that the real mission will be, get this: to Mars. Call me crazy, but I think "Mars" isn't just a code name. In my theory, Phoenix is the code name!
Now, I know people are going to laugh and make jokes about tin hats, but it really makes you stop and think.
Vital (Score:2, Funny)
Re:How NASA got funding from Bush (Score:2, Funny)