KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. — Viewed from below, the Phoenix Mars Lander moves toward the opening above the Delta II launch vehicle, to which it will be mated, inside the mobile service tower. Launch of NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander is scheduled for Aug. 3. There are two instantaneous launch times, 5:35:18 and 6:11:24 a.m. EDT. Phoenix will land in icy soils near the north polar permanent ice cap of Mars and explore the history of the water in these soils and any associated rocks, while monitoring polar climate. Landing on Mars is planned in May 2008 on arctic ground where a mission currently in orbit, Mars Odyssey, has detected high concentrations of ice just beneath the top layer of soil. NASA/George Shelton
Location Kennedy Space Center, FL
Date July 23, 2007