US "Phoenix" probe successfully lands on Mars

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory of NASA announced on the 25th that at 16:53 (7:53 Beijing Time on the 26th) in western US time, the American Phoenix Mars Lander successfully landed in an area near the Martian North Pole. According to plan, after landing, the Phoenix will conduct a three-month exploration on the surface of Mars. It will use its advanced digging arm to dig deep into the Martian surface and look for ice which may be buried underground, helping scientists understand whether there was ever an environment suitable for life here.

The lander is named "Phoenix", symbolizing "rebirth from fire". In its introduction materials, NASA said that the Phoenix actually evolved from a previous aborted Mars probe project, with many of its components reused as the basic framework of the Phoenix.

In addition, designers of the Phoenix also referenced and improved some designs of the Mars Polar Lander probe which disappeared without a trace after landing on Mars in 1999. NASA said it hopes that the Phoenix, reborn on the basis of its predecessors, can live up to expectations and make more major new discoveries in Mars exploration.

The Phoenix measures 5.5 meters long and 1.5 meters wide, supported by three legs. After successfully landing on Mars in the future, it will open two solar panels and carry out an "unprecedented" exploration on Mars. It has strong scientific research capabilities, carrying a complete set of specially developed working tools and advanced scientific research analysis instruments, with scientific research equipment weighing 55 kilograms.