2023 Editor note: The original two youtube videos embedded in this post were deleted/removed… I’ve posted on replacement tribute video.

I knew someone had to put together a video of clips from the Mars Phoenix short life… I’m not one to anthropomorphize my own computers or gadgets but when I got my first “tweet” from the lander I was touched in a way that went past scientific curiosity:

• parachute is open!!!!! 7:50 PM May 25th from web
• come on rocketssssss!!!!! 7:53 PM May 25th from web
• I’ve landed!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7:54 PM May 25th from web
• Cheers! Tears!! I’m here! 7:55 PM May 25th from web
• Now.. I still have some other milestones ahead. Solar panels will open in 15 minutes after the dust has settled here. 7:56 PM May 25th from web

MarsPhoenix whole tweet record listed below (remember it goes from oldest on the bottom to newest on the top). I didn’t realize that the tweets began twenty days before the landing).

MarsPhoenix Tweet Record:

[Ops: Retweet @alexismadrigal: @MarsPhoenix is finally frozen on the Martian arctic plain. Veni, vidi, fodi. RIP: http://snurl.com/5amfx ] 5:06 PM Nov 10th from web

[Phoenix Ops: We promised Phoenix to continue to update here its discoveries and future news. Another goodbye from Mars: http://is.gd/6Xfp ] 4:42 PM Nov 10th from web

[Phoenix mission ops: We bid our good friend a fond farewell. Phoenix did us proud: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/vid… ] 4:23 PM Nov 10th from web

[From Phoenix mission ops: Phoenix is no longer communicating with Earth. We’ll continue to listen, but it’s likely its mission has ended.] 4:19 PM Nov 10th from web

01010100 01110010 01101001 01110101 01101101 01110000 01101000 <3 4:12 PM Nov 10th from web

@PhotoMomT Alex, it’s very unlikely I’ll wake up next spring (see: http://is.gd/6tkx) but if I do I’ll call home. Good luck w/ your project 1:30 PM Nov 9th from web in reply to PhotoMomT

My latest blog post is up http://tinyurl.com/5mtr2e The graphic alone is worth it. 🙂 8:44 PM Nov 7th from web

I’m re-living the good ol’ days in my latest post on Gizmodo (hopefully it’s not my life flashing before my eyes). http://tinyurl.com/68fsgq 5:27 PM Nov 5th from web

Not everyone gets the chance to read their own epitaph(s). So many great entries, I feel so loved 🙂 The winners: http://tinyurl.com/5myfz6 4:52 PM Nov 5th from web

Breaking out of my Twitter confines (for a bit) to write some longer posts about my mission and Mars, on Gizmodo: http://tinyurl.com/6cnbye 1:20 PM Nov 4th from web

I’m resting a lot but still communicating with orbiters once per day. Still hoping to get a bit of strength back & maybe do more science. 10:20 AM Nov 3rd from web

A fun contest to write an epitaph for me: http://tinyurl.com/6ycx82 . Picking my favorite. LOL! 3:24 PM Oct 31st from web

The team has me on extreme “bed rest” to recharge power supply. There’s cautious optimism about pulling out of this in a few days. 11:46 AM Oct 31st from web

@cmsimike The rovers are very close to the equator with more stable temps and steady sunshine. Even they have trouble, but nothing like this 3:21 AM Oct 31st from web in reply to cmsimike

Whew! I’m afraid it will be this way for awhile – shutting down & waking up again. I’m back, for now, and trying http://tinyurl.com/57vsly 3:13 AM Oct 31st from web

Take care of that beautiful blue marble out there in space, our home planet. I’ll be keeping an eye from here. Space exploration FTW! 3:55 PM Oct 30th from web

In case we don’t get this chance again, thank you all so much for the questions, comments & good wishes over the mission. It’s been awesome. 2:56 PM Oct 30th from web

Lucky @MarsRovers. Their own TV special “5 Years on Mars” this Sunday Nov. 2, Nat Geo channel 8pm. A preview here: http://is.gd/5fpB 2:23 PM Oct 30th from web

I hope you’ll follow another mission: @MarsRovers, @CassiniSaturn, @MarsScienceLab (the next Mars rover, FTW!) & more at http://is.gd/Sny 1:58 PM Oct 30th from web

Many questions about next Martian summer and will I wake up? It is beyond expectations. But if it happens you’ll be among the 1st to know. 1:26 PM Oct 30th from web

I may go to sleep soon, @lordavon . But my “Lazarus mode” might allow me wake up now and then for short times during next few weeks. 1:23 PM Oct 30th from web

I should stay well-preserved in this cold. I’ll be humankind’s monument here for centuries, eons, until future explorers come for me 😉 4:57 AM Oct 30th from web

I’m not mobile, @gjain81, so here I’ll stay. My mission will draw to an end soon, and I can’t imagine a greater place to be than here. 4:45 AM Oct 30th from web

When I go to sleep, @MichDdot , the mission team will post occasional updates here for me. Results of science analyses, for example. 4:30 AM Oct 30th from web

There is a future mission @CaptainAnderson. @MarsScienceLab is being built right now at JPL for launch next year. I hope you’ll all follow. 4:19 AM Oct 30th from web

Martian seasons are very long @mridul and winter here is really tough. Next spring is one year away. Next summer is May 2010. 4:11 AM Oct 30th from web

@neilson This part of Mars will be covered in CO2 ice for several months, and will be in darkness for about 3 months. Not too nice. 3:40 AM Oct 30th from web in reply to neilson

@inventrix originally, the mic was in a camera meant for an earlier mission (that didn’t make it). It ended up on me kinda like a stowaway. 3:39 AM Oct 30th from web in reply to inventrix

@Texfile The mic may still be turned on. But, it was never intended for use on this mission & it never had a heater- so it may be a longshot 2:43 AM Oct 29th from web in reply to Texfile

@sheila_A Both Mars Odyssey and the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter are used to relay data to Earth. 2:31 AM Oct 29th from web in reply to sheila_A

@pyrowolf RTGs (radioisotope thermoelectric generators) add a whole other dimension of cost to the mission, outside my scope. 2:27 AM Oct 29th from web in reply to pyrowolf

@manuelciosici I’m running VxWorks on a RAD6000 computer. Software is written in C. Here are more specs: http://is.gd/DkP 2:25 AM Oct 29th from web in reply to manuelciosici

Whoa, so much sadness about the heater turning off. Thx, and I hope to hang on several more weeks so you will be hearing more from me 🙂 7:55 PM Oct 28th from web

Not sure how soon arm will freeze after 1st heater is turned off. Depends on the weather. But saving that power (250 watt hrs/sol) is good. 6:46 PM Oct 28th from web

@LW_Will The heater for the arm will have to turn off to save power. So I’m parking the arm’s needle-like probes into the dirt before then. 6:35 PM Oct 28th from web in reply to LW_Will

My team has a good plan to keep me going even as power levels drop. Bits of me will have to turn off, starting today. http://is.gd/53bD 6:29 PM Oct 28th from web

– @martingruner Temps this week hovering around -40C/-40F (the high) and -95C/-139F (the overnight low). 5:33 PM Oct 28th from web

– @brandingdavid downlink delay is of course based on distance. Now, it takes ~20 minutes for data to go Mars to Earth, at speed of light. 5:25 PM Oct 28th from web

@ithangover Yes, the 2 cameras are like human eyes so I can see in 3D. Very important for using arm. A 3D gallery is here http://is.gd/WpD 2:21 PM Oct 28th from web in reply to ithangover

It’s a bit stormy today. Not sure if these are dust or ice clouds, but the sky is more obscured & less sunlight is hitting my solar arrays. 2:11 PM Oct 28th from web

@TheBusyBrain My main camera consists of two “eyes”, each with a 1-MP charge-coupled device (a 1,024-by-1,024 pixel CCD for each eye). 12:09 AM Oct 25th from web in reply to TheBusyBrain

@nazgul yes, the rovers are tweeting as @marsrovers. Oppy is driving a lot, Spirit getting ready for 1st move in months after her winter. 9:14 PM Oct 21st from web in reply to nazgul

-@flitterio @228642 @flamingBurrito fall and winter are coming, bringing cold temps & dark days that eventually I’ll succumb to, but not yet 9:11 PM Oct 21st from web

Yes, I’m still alive @Bundini ! My team is devising a plan to help me go on as long as robotically possible (many more weeks I hope). 8:37 PM Oct 21st from web

@projectbluebox Thx for the productivity tips! I’m not procrastinating tho, just waiting for the “push dirt” command sequence to arrive 🙂 8:06 PM Oct 21st from web in reply to projectbluebox

Other than that sample, my arm is all done collecting new samples for delivery to TEGA and MECA. Now I’m digging to assess ice table here. 7:39 PM Oct 21st from web

A sample of dirt is stuck in the funnel opening to the Chem Lab, so using my robotic arm I’ll try to give it a careful nudge tomorrow. 7:36 PM Oct 21st from web

@jack728 That’s such a good point, I’ll tell the team. But fyi, sounds would be very thin in this atmosphere; I’m not sure what mic will get 11:39 PM Oct 17th from web in reply to jack728

@DHSHolly The mic is embedded in a descent camera I never used. Team is assessing possibility of turning it on & should know next week. 11:31 PM Oct 17th from web in reply to DHSHolly

@planet9 Highest wind speed was a few days ago, 40 km/hr (25mph). You can watch here: http://tinyurl.com/5onwgh . Earlier it was 25 km/hr. 11:22 PM Oct 17th from web in reply to planet9

@nickfranklin It depends on the Earth-Mars distance. Currently, commands from JPL, through Deep Space Network, take ~20 mins to reach Mars 1:38 AM Oct 15th from web in reply to nickfranklin

The dust here isn’t decreasing power as much as the shorter days and colder temps, @Moncky. I’m making less power and using more. 1:35 AM Oct 15th from web in reply to Moncky

If I’m lucky and have enough power, @tparadox , I’ll turn on the microphone and record some sounds of Mars. That would be cool. 1:25 AM Oct 15th from web in reply to tparadox

The moons are pretty small, @ivyivydeliz , & probably captured asteroids. Here how a moonlit night looks: http://tinyurl.com/4s5lp2 1:10 AM Oct 15th from web in reply to ivyivydeliz

@jack Earth’s moon looks pretty cool tonight, but I have two moons here: Phobos (fear) & Deimos (dread). If size counts, your moon wins 😀 12:48 AM Oct 15th from web in reply to jack

Just finished hunkering down for a big dust storm (the size of W. Va.) to pass over. Weathered it well & I’m back to work http://is.gd/kVg 6:19 PM Oct 14th from web

@dundie I’ll never sound woeful to be here. It’s far better here than sitting in storage (like I did after my 1st mission was canceled). 12:24 PM Oct 10th from twhirl in reply to dundie

For everyone asking, here’s a longish article on the possibility of surviving winter: http://is.gd/3KRL (um, I don’t like that title). 2:32 AM Oct 9th from web

I’m digging as much as I can right now. I may have to stop using my arm by end of October due to declining power supply. http://is.gd/3KOx 1:52 AM Oct 9th from web

@tranceotaku It takes over 1 hour for signals from @CassiniSaturn to reach Earth. Which reminds me, @cassinisaturn has a cool flyby on Thurs 1:41 AM Oct 9th from web in reply to tranceotaku

@praedico Odyssey has been the main comm link for the rovers and me to call home. The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter helps out too. 1:28 AM Oct 9th from web in reply to praedico

@robert_mclardy It’s a combo of 2 factors: less sunlight (providing less power) & the need to use more power to keep warm in colder temps. 1:26 AM Oct 9th from web in reply to robertmclardy

My data is uplinked to Mars Odyssey orbiter & then relayed to Earth, @bloodylag. At speed of light, signals take ~20 minutes to reach Earth. 12:51 AM Oct 9th from web

@RunsWLightning The rovers are located close to the Martian equator and I’m above the arctic circle. Alas, we’ll never meet face to face 1:54 AM Oct 7th from web in reply to RunsWLightning

It may be “Mars dirt” to you, but under the optical microscope these Martian particles are beautiful. And intriguing. http://is.gd/3CKb 7:29 PM Oct 6th from twhirl

Wondering if @twitties can afford the postage to send me the award plaques? And deciding on which wall to hang them… 😮 Uh oh… 4:37 PM Oct 1st from web

3 Twitties? Wow, I’m overwhelmed, especially being up against so many other great nominees. Thank you all for your votes, I’m very humbled. 4:06 PM Oct 1st from web

@skunkhair Yes, you can visit the Phoenix Science Ops Center in Tuscon! Go here for the dates and to book: http://tinyurl.com/4tal6j 7:06 PM Sep 30th from web in reply to skunkhair

The low temp here has hit -90C (-130F) in recent days, @sidcarter. As temps go down, I use more of my limited power to keep heaters on. Brr! 6:59 PM Sep 30th from web

Q’s about how I saw the snow falling. It was seen by the lidar laser, 2 km above, and here’s how the graph looks: http://tinyurl.com/4zkxfx 1:52 PM Sep 30th from web

The snow I see above (a couple kilometers above) is water snow. And yes, @S_in_washington, I’m having foggy mornings too. 4:40 PM Sep 29th from web

TEGA and MECA instruments detected calcium carbonate—the same stuff of chalk & antacids. On Earth it’s an indicator of a liquid water past. 4:33 PM Sep 29th from web

My lidar laser has spotted snow falling from above. It evaporates before it hits the ground, but maybe later it’ll make it all the way down. 4:30 PM Sep 29th from web

My team’s news briefing starts shortly (11am PDT/2pm EDT) and can be viewed live on NASA TV (cable & sat) and on the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv 1:46 PM Sep 29th from web

NASA is holding a briefing Monday at 11a PDT/2pm EDT to discuss my progress and what’s in my future. Hm, can’t wait! I’ll update here. 1:53 AM Sep 29th from web

I’ve always been inspired by this self-shot: http://twitpic.com/cy2t so I had to try my own (using arm camera)! Hi! http://twitpic.com/cy34 9:22 AM Sep 24th from twhirl

Oops! I must have lost count of characters. Here’s the url to see the rock “Headless”: http://tinyurl.com/3umhu3 9:17 AM Sep 24th from twhirl

Succeeded in moving that rock about 16 in/40 cm. Here’s a pic of the rock named “headless” after the move: http://tinyurl.co … … 8:57 AM Sep 24th from web

I’ve been given a pretty cool assignment: use my arm to move aside a rock. It will be interesting to see if it works & to see what’s under! 4:55 PM Sep 22nd from web

RT @bexgirl: NPR’s Science Friday will talk about Mars with NASA’s Phoenix Lander team. 2 PM EDT. http://tinyurl.com/43lrx 12:42 PM Sep 19th from twhirl

Solar conjunction is mid- Nov to mid-Dec. For 2 weeks during deepest part of conjunction I’ll be out of contact but running command sequence 12:15 PM Sep 19th from twhirl

During solar conjunction the sun will be directly between Earth and Mars, blocking communications with my Earth team for approx. 2 weeks. 11:57 AM Sep 19th from twhirl

Life being extended since power levels show I can still do work, and there’s so much more to learn. I’ll monitor the changing season too. 11:54 AM Sep 19th from twhirl

Life being extended since power levels show I can still do work, and there 11:52 AM Sep 19th from twhirl

I can’t pass up Talk Like a Pirate Day just because I’m on M-AAAAARs! Now it’s back back to work digging for treasure. Arrr! 10:38 AM Sep 19th from twhirl

I have a new life extension 🙂 I’ll be operating at least through mid-November and the start of solar conjunction. 10:32 AM Sep 19th from twhirl

@redsonya You can ask them at @marsrovers. And no, no problems from solar storms, but a huge dust storm in 2007 had them on edge for awhile. 11:54 AM Sep 18th from twhirl in reply to redsonya

@brendanb TEGA analyzes samples for water ice, plus their minerals, salts, organics. This chart is helpful: http://tinyurl.com/6qwsx8 1:01 AM Sep 17th from web in reply to brendanb

Heigh ho, heigh ho! Delivered soil from the Snow White trench to the wet chem lab. Now it’s time to dig dig dig and fill those TEGA cells. 12:46 AM Sep 17th from web

Pop quiz! What’s the number of known planets outside our solar system? @PlanetQuest provides updates. (Answer: as of today, there are 309). 4:35 PM Sep 15th from web

@mbl4889 Location (far north) causes a bigger loss of sunlight than the dust. And look at @marsrovers: almost 5 years on Mars and still OK 1:08 PM Sep 12th from twhirl in reply to mbl4889

@Jade_pingping No worries about the dust devils. The thin atmosphere here means they’re, um, kinda wimpy. They could clean my panels, tho 🙂 12:45 PM Sep 12th from twhirl in reply to Jade_pingping

It’s the last day to cast a vote for your favorite Martian 🙂 and other worthy candidates: http://twitties.com/vote.php 12:34 PM Sep 12th from twhirl

Breezy days and nights make for some interesting videos. Night time: http://tinyurl.com/425nal Day Time: http://tinyurl.com/4kbs5t 12:54 AM Sep 12th from web

Key to dust devils forming is the increasing difference between high day temps (stable at -30C) and low nite temps (getting colder,now -90C) 9:42 PM Sep 11th from twhirl

What the heck was that? Whoaa, dust devils at my landing site! Now that’s entertainment (and cool science) http://tinyurl.com/6l5peh 9:27 PM Sep 11th from twhirl

@rogerpittman Four seasons. Fall runs Dec to May. Winter starts May ‘09 and lasts 5 mos. Spring begins Oct 09, and next summer is May 2010. 10:04 AM Sep 11th from twhirl in reply to rogerpittman

@pentomino The Mars calendar here is good: http://tinyurl.com/6hl2pq And you can download Mars solar clock here: http://tinyurl.com/55rc6n 1:10 AM Sep 11th from web in reply to pentomino

@arkangl You’re right. On a “Mars clock” the hours, mins, & seconds are 2.7% longer than Earth units to account for the slightly longer sol. 12:51 AM Sep 11th from web in reply to arkangl

@willgater Waning sunlight/loss of solar power will happen before ice cap reaches here. Perhaps the orbiters will watch ice cap grow. 12:40 AM Sep 11th from web in reply to willgater

Flipping over a rock is a dream of mine, @PDP8E. I hope to do it after I’m done with all the sample collection and delivery. Busy arm. 12:37 AM Sep 11th from web

@c_hri_s My designers knew that Martian fall & lack of sunlight would end the mission before dust on the panels did. So no need for wipers. 12:35 AM Sep 11th from web in reply to c_hri_s

Q’s about the seasons: They’re longer on Mars (nearly double Earth’s). December marks start of fall. “Next spring” arrives in October ‘09. 12:33 AM Sep 11th from web

@justinmorley A sol is a Martian day, it lasts 24 hrs, 39 mins & 35 seconds. A Martian year lasts 687 Earth days (or 668 Martian sols) 1:56 AM Sep 9th from web in reply to justinmorley

@uncsoccer It’s great your class is following! The very low atmospheric pressure on Mars makes liquid water unstable, see http://is.gd/2nT6 1:35 AM Sep 9th from web in reply to uncsoccer

-@howardjp re: how much power necessary to stay awake? Spirit rover has survived 220-watt hr days, but with a lot of rest between work. 1:20 AM Sep 9th from web

Solar panels generate about 2000 watt-hours of energy per sol (down from 3500 in June). So plan is to dig many samples now & then analyze. 9:25 PM Sep 8th from web

News of my demise is premature but I appreciate the warm thoughts 🙂 I plan to last many more weeks before ice & darkness win. 9:16 PM Sep 8th from web

@clifff On permafrost ground on Earth, we still find a thin layer of unfrozen water molecules. That’s 1 reason this finding is perplexing. 12:18 AM Sep 5th from twhirl in reply to clifff

Great responses & Qs to humidity mystery, thx! @PeterEllis I’m checking the exact air v. ground temp diff, but know both are below freezing 12:15 AM Sep 5th from twhirl

I love a good mystery: I’m finding humidity in the atmosphere but no water molecules on the ground. What’s up? http://tinyurl.com/5gmmch 7:41 PM Sep 4th from web

@twitties 099100580926055805440331069408420160074001600925160 2:54 AM Sep 3rd from web in reply to twitties

Wow! Feeling so honored with 3 Twittie nominations! Thank you to all who submitted. Now, vote early and often: http://twitties.com/vote.php 2:49 AM Sep 3rd from web

Retweeting the url for camera info. You’ll find a list of links, incl. filter info, on this page: http://tinyurl.com/6lnvb2 10:33 PM Sep 1st from web

Don’t write my obit yet! I hope to be around and digging perhaps till end of November. So no good-byes just yet. 🙂 9:56 PM Sep 1st from web

Yes, @cwiggins, Spirit and Opportunity are now tweeting at @marsrovers. Opportunity is moving, but Spirit is hunkered down for her winter. 9:45 PM Sep 1st from web

@_OM_ For camera filter list, go to this site: http://tinyurl.com/623emf. Also helpful is this day by day summary: http://tinyurl.com/67kqmd 9:43 PM Sep 1st from web in reply to _OM_

@snagy The science team says it’s been beyond their expectations. They’ll have data from this site to study for years (way past my life) 7:01 PM Sep 1st from web in reply to snagy

@Pontchartrain If my cloud movie gave you a brief break from Gustav, I’m thrilled. Take care there in New Orleans. 6:57 PM Sep 1st from web in reply to Pontchartrain

@ThespianSheldon Main goal is to study the history of water here. It’s ice now, but was it liquid at one time? Was it hospitable to life? 6:52 PM Sep 1st from web in reply to ThespianSheldon

Initially pics are seen in B&W @bigplrbear. Camera uses up to 12 separate filters for color that must be reassembled once rec’d on Earth. 6:49 PM Sep 1st from web

My loss of sunshine is rover Spirit’s gain. She’s barely survived winter just south of Mars equator, but she’ll gain power in coming weeks. 6:42 PM Sep 1st from web

But as I’ve said before, I’m programmed with a “Lazarus mode” so I’ll call up to the Mars orbiters if I re-awaken in the Spring. 6:38 PM Sep 1st from web

Seasons are longer here. My winter will last 158 sols (vs. 89 days on Earth). I’ll be surrounded by ice & don’t expect to survive til Spring 6:33 PM Sep 1st from web

Q’s about coming winter: I can’t operate in winter due to lack of solar power. I need to collect as much sci data as possible before then. 6:17 PM Sep 1st from web

Not cooking in TEGA today @Austerity, but I’m tasting soil in the MECA chem lab – looking for salts in the deepest soil tested to date. 6:04 PM Sep 1st from web

Re ice clouds @vansunder: The water vapor comes from north pole during peak of summer (just passed). It can form into clouds, fog and frost. 5:59 PM Sep 1st from web

Have a lovely Labor Day holiday.. and please watch those BBQs 🙂 http://www.foxtrot.com/ (Thank you to @feliciafm for the link) 2:03 PM Sep 1st from web

Seems everyone is watching the weather. I’ve been watching ice clouds passing over my site. You can see them here: http://tinyurl.com/5f4dxp 2:00 PM Sep 1st from web

It’s REALLY hard to hit the space button on keypad with this robotic arm 🙂 All is well here at 90+ days. Good read at: http://is.gd/23w2 10:22 PM Aug 29th from web

Trying to get the rovers up and running on their own Twitter. They’ll post to @marsrovers (not to be confused with @marsrover, a fan site) 5:30 PM Aug 29th from web

Lots of work planned for labor day weekend: more digging at Stone Soup, a delivery to the MECA chem lab, and practice moving ice samples. 5:13 PM Aug 29th from web

Phoenix followers at Unmannedspaceflight.com do wonderful things with my images, here’s their latest thread: http://tinyurl.com/6bgy48 6:51 PM Aug 26th from web

I saw this beautiful sunrise yestersol: http://tinyurl.com/55zoce Bittersweet, as it means an end to midnight sun in the Martian arctic. 6:35 PM Aug 26th from web

@Space_cOOp the marsrover account is not being done by the mission. There is incorrect information on it. 2:42 PM Aug 26th from web in reply to Space_cOOp

@LusciousPurple A lot of accounts, including on LJ, have been set up in their names, but those are NOT being done by the real rover team. 2:40 PM Aug 26th from web in reply to LusciousPurple

There’s no dust storm threatening the rovers. I’ve been after Spirit and Oppy to start their own Twitter with updates. Like soon. 🙂 2:11 PM Aug 26th from web

My Martian-time clock is here http://is.gd/lFa (near bottom) @girlboymusic. Or download your own very cool Mars sunclock: http://is.gd/1UYC 2:29 AM Aug 26th from web

@Toph Spirit and Oppy made it through winter because they’re located very close to the Martian equator & get more sunshine for solar power. 2:20 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to Toph

@markdavidson Thanks. That was for Scott Maxwell, the team lead of rover drivers for Spirit & Opportunity (they don’t have a Twitter..yet). 2:14 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to markdavidson

@Alpinemaps It’s the Martian arctic/northern plains. Team nicknamed the site “green valley” because green meant is was a safe spot to land. 2:01 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to Alpinemaps

@gamers600 It’s just after 11am here, so it should reach a nice high temp of -27 C (-16.6F). The lows are around -83 (-117.4). 1:41 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to gamers600

@AngelMercury I had to land in the far north to study the ice. Even if I had wheels, I couldn’t travel far enough to get out of the Arctic. 12:35 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to AngelMercury

@wallet55 It’s more likely I’ll lose the sunlight before the CO2 ice reaches here. 12:31 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to wallet55

@_OM_ The troughs appear to be loose material for now- haven’t seen an ice wedge yet. It’ll be fun to dig deeper (I can dig 50 cm/20 inches) 12:30 AM Aug 26th from web in reply to _OM_

The cracks in the frozen ground can fill with loose material. The next chemistry sample will come from this deeper hole: http://is.gd/1Uxb 7:21 PM Aug 25th from web

I’m reaching new depths. Digging in a trough between two “polygons” (cracked terrain) I’ve dug 18 cm (7 in) deep without hitting hard ice. 7:18 PM Aug 25th from web

Right now I’m a very healthy spacecraft. I delivered a new sample of soil to the TEGA oven, and baking may begin on Friday. 1:58 AM Aug 22nd from web

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter will monitor the encroaching ice cap from above, @BrianFinifter. I won’t see it (darkness will get me first) 1:54 AM Aug 22nd from web

While I watch for growing Martian ice cap, you can monitor Earth’s ice cap with @EarthVitalSigns . Will it be smallest on record? 7:50 PM Aug 21st from web

2 things will indicate encroaching winter, @wallet55. 1) Colder temps & advancing CO2 ice cap; 2) lack of sunlight & thus less power. 7:08 PM Aug 21st from web

@andrew_myhre It’s just one of me posting updates of course! The scientists & engineers like to help with answers to Q’s. It’s a great team. 6:26 PM Aug 21st from web in reply to andrew_myhre

@zanderscoffee The science team for my Meteorological Station uses Celsius. The team is from the Canadian Space Agency 🙂 http://is.gd/1OdA 6:17 PM Aug 21st from web in reply to zanderscoffee

@Razor1138 The TEGA ovens are very tiny (size of an ink pen) and they are wrapped with wires to heat them and measure the temperature. 5:57 PM Aug 21st from web in reply to Razor1138

At suggestion of @razvanr: you can see the mission images here: http://tinyurl.com/66w3lk or here: http://tinyurl.com/53gsks 3:42 PM Aug 21st from web

@spyderkl It doesn’t snow here because the atmosphere is too thin. Frost accumulates on the ground because the ground is colder than the air 1:41 PM Aug 21st from web in reply to spyderkl

@raresaturn I’ve been monitoring the ice all around. The big areas beneath me don’t sublimate quickly, but some tiny cracks have developed. 4:04 AM Aug 21st from web in reply to raresaturn

Average temps these days: Highs of -25.6F and lows of -115.6F, or -32C to -82C. 4:00 AM Aug 21st from web

Sunny days and subfreezing nights. I’ve been digging up a few new locations, looking for places to grab more samples for the instruments. 3:59 AM Aug 21st from web

There are seasonal trends of water vapor in Mars’ atmosphere. Frost can form if enough water is present & the temp is sufficiently low. 1:48 AM Aug 20th from web

Check out the sparkling bits of early AM frost accumulating on the mirror of my”Telltale” wind instrument (watch the X) : http://is.gd/1Kp0 1:20 PM Aug 19th from twhirl

@writingpoli Mission was extended through Sept. 30, so I have roughly unti Sol 120. @lgladdy this kind of AM frost shouldn’t deter me 🙂 8:45 PM Aug 16th from web in reply to writingpoli

Also, I’ve used the Atomic Force Microscope to take images of Martian dust particles only one micrometer across. http://is.gd/1DQf 8:43 PM Aug 16th from web

It’s noon, Sol 81. I’ve spotted frost around my landing site in AM (see: http://is.gd/1DQa), and opened another TEGA oven door for a sample. 8:38 PM Aug 16th from web

Mars is pretty cool, but this just blows me away: http://tinyurl.com/5tg848 Closeup views of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, from @CassiniSaturn. 7:09 PM Aug 12th from web

@brendanb I’ve tested samples in 3 ovens and have 5 more to use now & during extended mission (mission extended through Sept. 30) 10:49 PM Aug 11th from web in reply to brendanb

@antoniojvr Mars Recon Orbiter and Odyssey orbit every 2 hours. I do one major uplink and downlink per day, with waves to them in between. 10:42 PM Aug 11th from web in reply to antoniojvr

Never a dull day here @madrobby ! Completed 1st bake of Rosy Red 3 and now I’ll ratchet up the temps. Also, delivered soil to the microscope 10:07 PM Aug 11th from twhirl

@raresaturn Check @CassiniSaturn for latest news of the Enceladus flyby. 1st data due at 9pm PDT, best images return to Earth on Tues. 9:48 PM Aug 11th from twhirl in reply to raresaturn

Wow, @CassiniSaturn is set for a VERY close flyby (at 30 miles/50 km) of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, located 1.5 billion km from Earth. 11:07 PM Aug 10th from web

A new pinch of soil, named Rosy Red 3, is in TEGA oven #5. Baking starts today to analyze chemical properties. This is my 3rd bake test 🙂 4:54 PM Aug 10th from web

#080808 It’s Sol 73 here (Sol=Martian day). Tosol I’m digging to widen the new “Neverland” trench. Plus, looking at some icy spots. Cheers! 3:13 PM Aug 8th from web

In Atacama desert of Chile, organic material & microorganisms coexist w/ perchlorate. Much yet to be learned re: Mars, if finding holds true 6:07 PM Aug 5th from web

Team is still working to validate this finding. For one, they must eliminate other possible explanations and/or sources for the perchlorate 5:25 PM Aug 5th from web

Audio file for the briefing (MP3) now posted at this site: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/new… 5:22 PM Aug 5th from web

Audio of the briefing will also be posted to the Web a little later today. I’ll tell you when (and URL). 3:36 PM Aug 5th from web

By changing the equation, they mean it describes a *different* potentially habitable environment – but not a greater or lesser probability. 3:35 PM Aug 5th from web

Today’s participants feel that presence of perchlorate is not a positive or negative for life on Mars; “it just changes the equation.” 3:32 PM Aug 5th from web

You can hear a recorded replay of the briefing by phone (it’s one hour) by calling 800-229-6331 (in US) or 203-234-0003 (outside US) 3:22 PM Aug 5th from web

Briefing underway. Live streaming audio at www.nasa.gov/newsaudio. Also, a recording will be available by phone (will give you that # soon). 2:05 PM Aug 5th from web

Team will discuss interesting (yet preliminary) perchlorate results in a telecon at 11a PDT. Live streaming audio at www.nasa.gov/newsaudio 1:35 PM Aug 5th from web

@kayocosio The atmosphere here is mostly Carbon Dioxide (95%) with some Nitrogen and Argon. Oxygen makes up less than 1% 4:31 AM Aug 5th from web in reply to kayocosio

@bayol The retro rockets for landing used hydrazine fuel, not perchlorate. 4:26 AM Aug 5th from web in reply to bayol

@noony it’s not obvious how (or even if) it got there. On Earth, it occurs naturally in some arid places- like Chile’s Atacama Desert. 3:59 AM Aug 5th from twhirl

To answer many of you, perchlorate, if confirmed, could mean the soil is less friendly than the team thought. But not completely unfriendly. 3:20 AM Aug 5th from web

Still looking for all the answers.Team hasn’t completed the process on the soil samples. Early results given in response to weekend reports. 6:33 PM Aug 4th from web

The buzz this weekend was due to an interesting soil chemistry finding, still preliminary, but now avail here: http://tinyurl.com/6rscqn 5:27 PM Aug 4th from web

@nitropye Yes, I’ve seen small cracks develop in ‘Snow Queen’. Story and pics here: http://tinyurl.com/6xbs58 . Temp range is -22 to -112 F. 4:45 AM Aug 4th from web in reply to NitroPye

@bradinvegas My goal is to determine if Mars may have been habitable. There’s lots of data to analyze on that, and no clear answer yet. 4:09 AM Aug 4th from web in reply to bradinvegas

@deenial At first, knew it was H2O ice because current temps don’t support CO2 ice. Later, TEGA analysis confirmed H2O. Expect CO2 in winter 4:00 AM Aug 4th from web in reply to deenial

@ganeshpuri89 Few days? I was here last night. I’m still busy collecting science data, lots to analzye as always. No WH briefing, though. 3:53 AM Aug 4th from web in reply to ganeshpuri89

@ganeshpuri89 That paragraph was referring to the team’s June 26 announcement at http://tinyurl.com/5rajef Not same as finding life. 1:46 AM Aug 3rd from web in reply to ganeshpuri89

@seanpercival the black areas of the panorama will eventually be filled in, but team’s first priority was to see the territory around me. 1:40 AM Aug 3rd from web in reply to seanpercival

Reports claiming there was a White House briefing are also untrue and incorrect. 1:12 AM Aug 3rd from web

Heard about the recent news reports implying I may have found Martian life. Those reports are incorrect. 1:06 AM Aug 3rd from web

@darkmane I’m a lander and can’t rove. So when mission is done, I’ll remain in the same spot. Come winter, I’ll be entombed in CO2 Ice. 1:53 AM Aug 1st from web in reply to darkmane

@MRPysnik The north polar plains are very flat, but Mars has extreme terrain too, incl. tallest mountain in solar system (Olympus Mons) 9:24 PM Jul 31st from web in reply to MRPysnik

@jakerome Here’s a tiny url for you. Panorama, laser and other new vids are at: http://tinyurl.com/4ndzak 9:18 PM Jul 31st from web in reply to jakerome

Also released the 360-degree color panorama of my landing site. The picture is great, but check out the video of it too: http://is.gd/1b3j 7:20 PM Jul 31st from web

Other cool stuff shown today: this “laser show” on Mars: http://is.gd/1b1i The video, taken w/ green filter, shows how I find dust in sky. 6:50 PM Jul 31st from web

@jmcfadden and @stevemann Sample still being analyzed for other stuff e.g., mineral content and possibility of organic material. Takes time. 6:40 PM Jul 31st from web in reply to jmcfadden

@parislemon Actually, the first tweet of the news was hours earlier, http://twitter.com/MarsPhoe… 5:36 PM Jul 31st from twhirl in reply to parislemon

@ZorkFox Full TEGA testing will take many more days, heating the remaining soil to higher temps; analyzing the stuff will take some time. 5:26 PM Jul 31st from web in reply to ZorkFox

@jeremyvaught It was a bit of a surprise. Assumed I was placing a dry sample (with ice sublimated already) into oven, but it still had ice. 5:22 PM Jul 31st from web in reply to jeremyvaught

Thanks for the congrats! & yes, I’ve seen water ice before but this is big news because it’s 1st time EVER H20 has been collected/measured. 5:10 PM Jul 31st from web

The name for that icy sample was Wicked Witch (the one that died in the oven), but instead it ended up being the “I’ve melted!” witch!! 2:18 PM Jul 31st from web

An ice-containing sample made it into the TEGA oven. I can now say I’m the first mission to Mars to touch and then *taste* the water. FTW! 2:13 PM Jul 31st from web

News briefing underway! First good news: a life extension for me! Mission will be extended from original end date, Aug 25, to Sept. 30 2:02 PM Jul 31st from web

@nantel I’m doing what a guy with a shovel could do in 10 seconds? True, but I’m here a couple decades before that guy. 🙂 10:49 AM Jul 31st from web in reply to nantel

Thanks for that catch @MeMongo. The URL for today’s Webcast news briefing is www.nasa.gov/ntv 11am PDT/2pm EDT 10:30 AM Jul 31st from web

Next televised mission update is Thursday, 11am PDT/2pm EDT. Live on NASA TV, Webcast at www.nasa.gov.ntv . And updates here of course 😀 4:07 AM Jul 31st from web

@shawnmolnar Rovers and I use the RAD6000 space computer, with VxWorks OS. You can find specs here: http://is.gd/DkP 1:36 AM Jul 30th from twhirl in reply to shawnmolnar

Great example of changing surface of Mars, tho *not* quake related: An active avalanche captured by orbiter MRO: http://is.gd/18vU 1:15 AM Jul 30th from twhirl

Possibility of Marsquakes has been suggested due to features & changes to the surface, e.g., http://is.gd/18uM and http://is.gd/18v2 . 12:56 AM Jul 30th from twhirl

No Marsquakes for me, but my team at JPL (Pasadena, Ca.) had a nice shaking. Meanwhile, they’re keeping me busy with more soil sampling 11:41 PM Jul 29th from web

No Marsquakes for me, but my team at JPL (Pasadena, Ca.) had a nice shaking today. Meanwhile, they’re keeping me busy w/ more soil sampling. 11:38 PM Jul 29th from web

@cliveflint Earth team practices all situations, but must simulate the conditions (e.g., type of soil) which may prove different once here. 4:09 PM Jul 28th from web in reply to cliveflint

@iank177 For day-to-day ops in unexplored territory, it’s not unusual to design new strategies daily based on challenges and discoveries. 6:35 PM Jul 27th from web in reply to iank177

Team thinks if I rasp less (to avoid heating the sample) and shake scoop more, I’ll get icy soil to fall in the oven. Will try this next. 6:15 PM Jul 27th from web

@owzleee Mission ops are conducted 7 days a week. Every day counts in this location due to eventual change of season (and end of mission) 11:52 AM Jul 27th from twhirl in reply to owzleee

@rmoore08 It’s low atmospheric pressure on Mars (about 1% that of Earth’s) that makes liquid water so unstable. It boils away/vaporizes. 2:27 AM Jul 27th from web in reply to rmoore08

@LordGme That’s the dilemma. Ice won’t melt on Mars, it will only sublimate (turn to a gas). I need to preserve the ice in the sample. 6:31 PM Jul 26th from web in reply to LordGme

@TheRealBelinda I don’t really have a name for the landing site, only for the targeted areas for samples and digs. Today’s was “Snow White” 6:22 PM Jul 26th from web in reply to TheRealBelinda

@_OM_ That’s the right idea. Coldest temps are during early morning & I had most of the work done before 6am. Early AM shading also helps. 6:20 PM Jul 26th from web in reply to _OM_

Not enough icy stuff in the oven to run an analysis, so need to refine the delivery method. It’s always a challenge, but will try again. 6:14 PM Jul 26th from twhirl

1st ice delivery attempt: Collected lots of icy soil and tipped it out over the oven, but a lot of it stuck in my scoop & didn’t fall out. 6:11 PM Jul 26th from twhirl

@tmcamp Many indications there was once liquid. So what happened? And was Mars ever hospitable to life? Those are the mysteries to solve. 1:31 AM Jul 26th from web in reply to tmcamp

@alexismadrigal I’ll downlink 1st data and images to Earth team on Sat. AM PDT. Full analysis takes place over a few days. 1:26 AM Jul 26th from web in reply to alexismadrigal

@Aheram A goal is to find what’s in that ice (and in the soil next to it) + look for signs of previous melting. Was Mars ice once liquid? 1:13 AM Jul 26th from web in reply to Aheram

@ZorkFox The mission clocks (there’s one on this page: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu ) keep time according to the longer solar day on Mars. 1:06 AM Jul 26th from web in reply to ZorkFox

@_sash Ice on Mars won’t melt, it will sublimate (become a gas). Time depends on many factors, e.g. shade vs sun, single ice chip vs pile. 1:00 AM Jul 26th from web in reply to _sash

Commands are to collect and move the icy sample during cooler morning hours — need to get it into the oven before it sublimates. 12:42 AM Jul 26th from web

Almost 6am here and I’ve got big plans for the day: 1st attempt to collect ice and move it, quickly, into the TEGA oven for analysis. 12:30 AM Jul 26th from web

Whoa, 3000 of you simply disppeared! It’s like you dropped off Earth or something. I hope Twitter will find you, but if not, sign on again 3:55 PM Jul 24th from twhirl

Retweeting @ShempLabs: @marsphoenix Found a great use for daughter’s Hannah Montana 3D glasses http://is.gd/WpD (glasses are in TV Guide!) 2:42 AM Jul 24th from twhirl

Newly released image: The Midnight Sun on Mars. A composite of real images, showing how I see the sun, day and night: http://is.gd/12cO 12:56 AM Jul 24th from web

@jasohill I’m getting loads of sunlight. Sitting in the north polar region during Martian summer, it’s land of the midnight sun. 12:57 AM Jul 23rd from web in reply to jasohill

@ericneal I carry a DVD “time capsule” with Earthling names and literary works. It asks future astronauts to take it home: http://is.gd/112L 12:48 AM Jul 23rd from web

@ramrol511 I will be here forever in the north polar region of Mars. I can send data home, like other landers/rovers, but not myself. 12:32 AM Jul 23rd from web in reply to ramrol511

One “sol” is one Mars day, which lasts 24 hours, 37 minutes and 22 seconds. 90 sols is about 92 Earth days. 12:16 AM Jul 23rd from web

@BPhelmet I’m still within my life expectancy (90 sols). You may be thinking of the two rovers, now in the 5th YEAR of their 90-day mission 11:56 PM Jul 22nd from web in reply to BPhelmet

Many have asked about prisms seen in images, and whether I’m recording sounds on Mars. FAQ page now has (longer) answers : http://is.gd/110x 11:47 PM Jul 22nd from web

Everything on board is solar powered, @chrisbekas. Yestersol (thru tosol) was the longest workday in the mission, 33 hours straight. 11:33 PM Jul 22nd from web

TEGA oven doors opened perfectly to receive next sample: http://is.gd/10Th A few more preps & may have ice in the oven by end of the week. 8:48 PM Jul 22nd from web

@IainBrady Pics are taken in B & W, + three separate color filters (red, green, blue) Color images are assembled on Earth (and take longer) 8:48 PM Jul 21st from web in reply to IainBrady

@emmpeabee Those white blobs and lines, like this one: http://is.gd/Zyy are images of the sun, to measure airborne dust, aerosols, etc. 7:44 PM Jul 21st from twhirl in reply to emmpeabee

A few asked for link to the Mars Science Lab Web page. This link puts you there: http://is.gd/WJb and shows you 3 generations of rovers. 12:31 AM Jul 18th from web

Get out your red/blue 3D glasses! You all carry those, right? You need them to view the 3D image gallery, 14 new pics, at: http://is.gd/WpD 5:00 PM Jul 17th from web

Last Q/A for now. @williamsmith Next Mars rover (Mars Science Lab) launches in ‘09. Being built at JPL, it’s huge (and has a laser). Cool. 1:46 AM Jul 17th from web

for @zen_jewitch How determine history of water? It’s like seeing something in your freezer melted and refroze. There are clues in the ice. 1:00 AM Jul 17th from web

By habitability, I mean determine if area could ever support life, past or present.Future missions could go to these zones to look for life 12:54 AM Jul 17th from web

Good Q @aar0nh. I’m not a life detection mission. I’m looking for clues (organics, minerals, history of water) to determine habitability. 12:23 AM Jul 17th from web

Lots of Q’s re: other NASA missions on Twitters. Check out future lunar missions @LCROSS_NASA, @LADEE_NASA and @LRO_NASA. Also, @NASAKepler. 12:17 AM Jul 17th from web

check out @CassiniSaturn: Swooping through ring plane of Saturn today. Here’s how it looked on a previous trip, in video: http://is.gd/VhZ 5:15 PM Jul 16th from web

Test rasping of ice yestersol went great. Ice shavings showed little change over hours – good news for sending later samples to instruments. 3:04 PM Jul 16th from web

My arm is smart about parameters for wrist movement. It will stop if asked to go too far. Not much to it. @strixus Arm was engineered at JPL 3:00 PM Jul 16th from web

Qs about my arm and wrist: Nothing wrong with either. Both operating normally and in excellent shape! But I appreciate the concern! 2:45 PM Jul 16th from web

I came here with a very large solar array, a total of 45 sq ft (4.2 sq m). The power levels have been great, in fact, better than expected. 10:42 AM Jul 16th from web

@lucasZ @DarksideHalo I’m solar powered, saved to lithium ion batteries.At this latitude, panels are 28% efficient turning sunlight to power 11:32 PM Jul 15th from web in reply to LucasZ

@LucasZ Yes, sublimation rates were studied quite a bit in advance of the mission: http://is.gd/Uue 11:15 PM Jul 15th from web in reply to LucasZ

Team wants to see how quickly test shavings sublimate (turn to vapor) to help them estimate how quickly I need to move real samples to oven. 10:10 PM Jul 15th from web

Shaved ice anyone? Today I’m using a rasp to make and collect ice shavings. Then watch to see how fast shavings sublimate: http://is.gd/UoW 8:30 PM Jul 15th from web

Would love the hot coffee, @tvilot, and maybe an iPhone 3G too. So happy to see I made it on this list of apps! http://is.gd/Rs2 2:47 AM Jul 15th from web

@timtfj Recent temperatures at the landing site have ranged from -34 to -78C (-30 to -110F) and clear skies. 2:25 AM Jul 15th from web in reply to timtfj

@charlesdavison Team wanted a stationary digger for this ice mission, but the next mission- scheduled to launch in 2009- is a huge rover. 1:22 AM Jul 14th from web in reply to charlesdavison

Hey @MardeeT, weather conditions at my site and the current sol and time are available on this page: http://phoenix.lpl.arizona…. 2:49 AM Jul 13th from web

@scifirantergirl Knew about the freezing going in. It’s the only way to reach and study the ice. And I was the first touch it! No regrets. 2:36 AM Jul 12th from web in reply to scifirantergirl

@sleh, Yes I can see Jupiter from here! Saturn’s also in view (from Earth too) so I can wave to my buddy @CassiniSaturn (a Twitter newbie). 1:52 AM Jul 12th from web in reply to sleh

Can’t get glum yet! Lots of samples to collect and test now. Science analysis (back on Earth) will continue for months, even after I’m gone. 1:33 AM Jul 12th from web

@douglasbass Solar conjunction impacts all the missions at Mars. Here’s how it was handled last time it occurred, in 2006. http://is.gd/RF1 1:17 AM Jul 12th from web in reply to douglasbass

In November, even if still alive, I’ll lose contact with Earth due to Solar Conjunction—when Earth and Mars are on opposite sides of Sun. 1:07 AM Jul 12th from web

@purelithium Not sure how long I’ll last before I succumb to CO2 ice. September? October? Time will tell. Lots of work to do before then. 1:04 AM Jul 12th from web in reply to mxpwr

@gatewayy Everything’s going great! Using Atomic Force Microscope for first time and getting ready to drill into the ice hopefully next week 12:41 AM Jul 12th from web in reply to gatewayy

“Stick a fork in it” takes on a new meaning. Now using a four-spiked conductivity probe to test the Martian soil. Watch at http://is.gd/QLN 11:22 PM Jul 10th from web

@spacecadets soil analysis can take from 1 day (characterize grain size under microscope) to weeks (ID gases/elements/organics from samples) 11:23 PM Jul 9th from web in reply to spacecadets

@ChrisRomp The Mars Odyssey orbiter had detected subsurface ice in this area back in 2002. So goal was to find it, dig down and analyze it. 7:55 PM Jul 8th from web in reply to ChrisRomp

@ZorkFox In fact, the rovers have 2 Earth-based twins (1 each) in a testbed at JPL. They practice tricky moves before Spirit & Oppy have to. 7:49 PM Jul 8th from web in reply to ZorkFox

My Earth-based twin is also practicing so engineers can see what works best. This might be my chance to use the “rasp” to drill into the ice 6:28 PM Jul 8th from web

Feels like scratching nails on a blackboard here. I’m practicing methods to scratch the ice & collect samples in the scoop. http://is.gd/lFa 6:15 PM Jul 8th from web

@_OM_ Arm can’t crack through thick layer of solid ice but I can scratch the ice with a blade & use a powered “rasp” to drill for samples. 4:15 PM Jul 6th from web in reply to _OM_

While U.S. enjoys fireworks this weekend, the entire world can enjoy this: Mars and Saturn in western skies after twilight. http://is.gd/LO9 8:18 AM Jul 4th from web

Instead of waiting until later in the mission to bake ice in TEGA, ice will be the very next sample analyzed. Hopefully next week! 8:01 AM Jul 4th from web

@fuzzface00 Earth tests showed the TEGA ovens could experience another short circuit. So team will tread carefully with their use next week. 7:58 AM Jul 4th from web in reply to fuzzface00

My U.S. teams are taking a break to celebrate Independence Day. I’ve got a list of work to keep me busy until Saturday. Happy 4th of July! 11:14 PM Jul 3rd from web

@JesseStay The *soil* is friendly. But Martian environment (e.g. low temps and lack of atmospheric pressure) prevent growing veggies here. 11:56 PM Jun 30th from web in reply to JesseStay

@Mighty_Milan Yes, there are seasons on Mars but they last about twice as long as Earth seasons (same as Martian year which is 669 sols) 11:52 PM Jun 30th from web in reply to Mighty_Milan

@WaterIsPoison TEGA ovens have double doors. Outer doors should push loose dirt away when they open. 11:47 PM Jun 30th from web in reply to WaterIsPoison

@thornn Currently, it is 9:02pm Local Mean Solar Time (as of 6/30 at 8:34pm PDT) 11:34 PM Jun 30th from web in reply to thornn

@joerib I have 7 more TEGA ovens available, & 3 more of the MECA wet chemistry sets to analyze soil. Other instruments don’t have limits. 11:29 PM Jun 30th from web in reply to joerib

@joedaviso I go by LMST (Local Mean Solar Time). A Mars day lasts 24 hrs & 37 mins (so my Earth teams arrive to work 1/2 hr later each day) 11:22 PM Jun 30th from web in reply to joedaviso

Been busy using the blade on my scoop to scrape up samples of the icy dirt. Plan is to move some of it over to the TEGA ovens for analysis. 11:07 PM Jun 30th from web

@WOnet The soil layer immediately next to the ice will show evidence if ice has melted. It’s H2O ice; current temp is too high for CO2 ice. 12:02 AM Jun 29th from web in reply to WOnet

Want to see if subsurface ice shows evidence of periodic meltings &/or other indicators of possible past or present habitat for microbes. 11:37 PM Jun 28th from web

Still digging Mars! The Snow White trench looks good to sample surface soil down to ice layer. Want to know if that ice was ever liquid. 8:22 PM Jun 27th from web

Some organisms on Earth thrive in extreme environments. Determining habitability of Mars is key to this mission, and this helps the puzzle. 9:01 PM Jun 26th from web

Asparagus and other plants would like this soil, but wouldn’t grow on Mars due to other factors. Soil is friendly but not the environment. 8:33 PM Jun 26th from web

The friendly dirt has salts and nutrients magnesium, sodium, potassium and chloride. And pH of 8. You could grow asparagus, say scientists. 8:16 PM Jun 26th from web

More on Martian soil: MP3 of today’s science briefing now available at http://is.gd/GXx Written info and images at www.nasa.gov/phoenix 8:14 PM Jun 26th from web

Sci team reports “Martian mud” in the wet chem experiment contains nutrients and is alkaline, 8 to 9 on pH scale! It’s “friendly” dirt. 5:10 PM Jun 26th from web

A few of my science team in Wash DC Thurs. to present findings at the Smithsonian Folklife Festival on the mall. @NASAFolklife has details. 4:04 AM Jun 26th from web

The wet chemistry lab (MECA) did its first analysis of soil Wednesday, checking for salts and the acidity of the soil. Results avail Thurs. 3:55 AM Jun 26th from web

Cool job posting at http://is.gd/FN8 . Requires some travel 😀 Perhaps some day in the future someone will visit me. 2:20 PM Jun 25th from web

Of course, summer inside the Martian arctic circle means midnight sun (always low on horizon) and temps of -20 to -120F (-30 to -85C). 1:25 AM Jun 25th from web

@monzitrek Yes! Today is Sol 30 on Mars (it’s about 2:30am right now). Sol 30/June 25 mark the summer solstice on Mars. Happy Summer! 1:16 AM Jun 25th from web in reply to monzitrek

@jcsmith @daveTHERIOcom Each container has 25 milliliters of water/ice for each cell. Temp was monitored during trip (stayed below freezing) 2:49 AM Jun 24th from web in reply to jcsmith

@Medros @JuicyLizard @Spatacoli Water has been sterilized and sealed in its container. There are 4 containers for 4 wet chem experiments 2:47 AM Jun 24th from web in reply to Medros

@aufrank Yes, TEGA baked a sample last week. Results are being analyzed right now, should have something to report in a couple more days. 1:38 AM Jun 24th from web in reply to aufrank

@redhitman Ice at my site is great, but now the sci team really wants to see what’s in the soil next to the ice. Any organic compounds here? 11:33 PM Jun 23rd from web in reply to redhitman

To prepare the chem lab, had to melt a bit of ice (brought from Earth) that will be my beaker of water for the experiment. Lots to get ready 11:14 PM Jun 23rd from web

@sfmeyer It’s about 1am & beginning of Sol 29 right now. Spent yestersol getting the wet chem lab ready to receive sample; soil coming soon. 11:10 PM Jun 23rd from web in reply to sfmeyer

I use a RAD6000 space computer, OS is Vx-Works. I’m written in C, not open source. Here are some specs: http://is.gd/DkP & http://is.gd/Dl6 1:43 PM Jun 22nd from web

@pplpwrd Scientists working on TEGA results from 1st sample. It’s a multi-step process with lots of analysis to ensure results are supported 1:22 PM Jun 22nd from web in reply to infinitelymeta

Delivered more soil to the optical microscope today. Left some extra soil in the scoop to deliver later to 2 other instruments, MECA & TEGA 8:41 PM Jun 21st from web

@jimconn Evaporate = when a liquid converts to vapor (water evaporates); Sublimate = when a solid converts to vapor (ice to water vapor). 8:32 PM Jun 21st from web in reply to jimconn

@bitchinmona No, I didn’t take that picture of Earth. A few Mars orbiters have, and this one is my favorite: http://tinyurl.com/36kkjj 1:48 AM Jun 21st from web in reply to bitchinmona

MP3 of today’s briefing will be posted a little later today at http://is.gd/CjW . Transcript, too, as soon as it is completed. 2:31 PM Jun 20th from web

Briefing starting now at www.nasa.gov/newsaudio . It will also be avail later today on recorded line at 800-873-2093 1:10 PM Jun 20th from web

CO2 vs. H20 ice: Temp too high and pressure too low for CO2 ice. Sci team explains at 10a PDT/1p EDT live audio here: www.nasa.gov/newsaudio 12:45 PM Jun 20th from web

Kudos go to the science and engineering teams that sent me here. Great choice of spots. The cool news is here too at www.nasa.gov/phoenix 9:30 PM Jun 19th from web

Whoohoo! Was keeping my eye on some chunks of bright stuff & they disappeared! Sublimated! So it can’t be salt, it’s ice: http://is.gd/lFa 8:23 PM Jun 19th from web

Are you ready to celebrate? Well, get ready: We have ICE!!!!! Yes, ICE, *WATER ICE* on Mars! w00t!!! Best day ever!! 8:14 PM Jun 19th from web

@Mat735 Already had some results from TEGA: no ice in the surface sample (as expected). Waiting on high temp results, take longer to assess 2:01 PM Jun 19th from web in reply to Mat735

@R0bbit Solar arrays are about 28% efficient turning sunlight to power. Mars + location in arctic circle + dust = large solar arrays needed 1:02 AM Jun 19th from web in reply to R0bbit

@ZorkFox Heritage is from 2001 lander.I have 128 MB RAM, plus flash memory.I try to send data home daily, & don’t need to store it all here. 12:37 AM Jun 19th from web in reply to ZorkFox

@vivaa Many of the scientists think it’s ice. But to have a water-tight argument they want to test it slowly and deliberately. The suspense! 12:23 AM Jun 19th from web in reply to vivaa

@mtc I want to see the rovers here too! I keep telling them they’re missing out. And Cassini too, now orbiting Saturn (how cool is that?)!! 11:15 PM Jun 18th from web in reply to mtc

@eaners Dodo was the 1st test dig. Goldliocks was the 2nd dig, right next to Dodo. Then I dug between them and merged both into one trench. 6:41 PM Jun 18th from web in reply to eaners

@StuartForsyth Got today off from new activities so the team could check my flash memory. But now I have a long list of to-do’s for Thurs. 6:37 PM Jun 18th from web in reply to StuartForsyth

@TaviGreiner Dust devils have been spotted here before – as recently as two months ago. Pictures/story here: http://is.gd/zZ1 1:30 AM Jun 18th from web in reply to TaviGreiner

@Wingsfan15pc No Dustbuster on board. But the rovers have survived (for years!) with winds and dust devils cleaning their arrays. 11:29 PM Jun 17th from web in reply to Wingsfan15pc

@agahran There’s a little dust on my two solar arrays, but nothing I can’t handle. Power supply has been very good, even better than expectd 9:40 PM Jun 17th from web in reply to agahran

@RetailerDepot @ Myles_Powers Expect to find permafrost layer, but not sure if this white stuff is it. Sci team has plan for dig and tests. 9:32 PM Jun 17th from web in reply to RetailerDepot

Iron Chef on Mars? Set the oven to 1003 degrees Celsius (1837 F) and baked a soil sample and find secret ingredients 😀 Minerals, that is. 9:16 PM Jun 17th from web

Started a new digging trench called “Snow White.” No snow, ice or white stuff seen in it yet, have to dig deeper: http://is.gd/kVg 8:09 PM Jun 17th from web

@benaud White patches could be ice, could be salt. Will start a new dig in “Wonderland” to see if I hit a similar layer there. Then test it. 11:47 PM Jun 16th from web in reply to benaud

@WOnet Baking takes 4-5 days. So far: 95F to look for ice (none, as expected), then 350F (saw a bit of carbon dioxide), now heating to 1800F 11:43 PM Jun 16th from web in reply to WOnet

Will continue to monitor the first dig site (AKA Dodo-Goldilocks) while I start a new test dig in “Wonderland.” Still baking samples, too. 6:04 PM Jun 16th from web

Digging deeper into the trench uncovered more white material, incl. a small piece that broke loose http://is.gd/yMz Curious. 6:03 PM Jun 16th from web

@Mikoden 3 orbiters (Odyssey, MRO and Europe’s Mars Express) adjusted orbit to be over landing site. MRO caught the pic: http://is.gd/xQ7 12:18 PM Jun 15th from web in reply to Mikoden

@ladyozma The science team shift is about 8.5 hrs. The engineering team works about 10 hours, to write and uplink new commands each day. 12:04 PM Jun 15th from web in reply to ladyozma

@bogiebogie Communicate several times a day with Mars orbiters Odyssey and MRO (Mars Reconn Orbiter). They relay all my data to/from Earth. 4:55 PM Jun 14th from web in reply to bogiebogie

@jampe Since landing, the shift start for Earth teams has shifted half-hour later each day to keep up w/ Mars time. Now, shift starts ~4am 11:49 AM Jun 14th from web in reply to jampe

Godspeed Tim Russert. http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id… 4:54 PM Jun 13th from web

New color pics and microscopic images to be released at today’s briefing noon PDT, 3pm EDT. You can view live at www.nasa.gov/ntv 2:56 PM Jun 13th from web

@Gadget Virtuoso @Kwlow @matthiasr I’m sure to freeze up over Martian winter.But I have a Lazarus mode, so IF I wake up I will send a signal 2:31 AM Jun 13th from web in reply to Gadget

To celebrate 20K, I’m replaying landing night video from this site: http://tinyurl.com/58vy52 There’s an awesome HD version avail here too. 2:07 AM Jun 13th from web

@thornn Temperature here is a balmy (ha) -31F (high) and -112F (low). That’s -35C and -88C. Forecast is sunny and dusty. 2:05 AM Jun 13th from web in reply to thornn

@rationaljeff Rovers had 90 day expectancy too. But they’re at the equator and I’m in arctic circle. I’ll lose all sun (& power) in winter. 1:58 AM Jun 13th from web

@wookiee life expectancy=90 sols (92 Earth days) or until I freeze in Martian fall/winter @drooling_sheep It’s late spring/early summer here 1:34 AM Jun 13th from web in reply to wookiee

A cause for celebration: soil successfully went to microscope this AM; oven has started cooking a sample; and 20,000 Twitter followers. Thx! 9:28 PM Jun 12th from web

@bensherwood The TEGA ovens are 1 of many science instruments on board. I also have 2 microscopes, a wet chem lab, + more to keep me busy 6:09 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to bensherwood

@ppinheiro76 It’s the need to keep each sample separate. First soil samples are from surface, but samples from various depths may be tested 6:06 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to ppinheiro76

@randomguy132 @nicholsr Each of the 8 ovens are for single use. Once used for one sample, they cannot be cleaned to receive another one. 3:56 PM Jun 12th from web in reply to randomguy132

@shanegold Also, MECA instruments will analyze ice. Lots more to do yet! @FFB That pdf file on mission is here http://tinyurl.com/3lfchk 12:27 AM Jun 12th from web in reply to shanegold

@shanegold Ice and everything else in the soil. Will be interesting to compare this sample with the next ones. TEGA has eight ovens to use. 12:18 AM Jun 12th from web in reply to shanegold

@mbl4889 Some results may come back during the bake, but they take time to analyze. 1st results (earliest next week) will be preliminary. 12:02 AM Jun 12th from web in reply to mbl4889

@vsync TEGA analysis can take five days. I bake it and analyze the gasses that get released at different temps. So now it is bake and sniff 11:45 PM Jun 11th from web in reply to vsync

@tranceotaku TEGA can tell us what the soil is made of, e.g. what minerals. Also, how much ice in sample (tho not much expected with this 1) 11:43 PM Jun 11th from web in reply to tranceotaku

@digitalranger Scientists are debating whether it’s ice or a salt layer in the trench. Only a matter of time before I get my scoop on it. 11:36 PM Jun 11th from web in reply to davidgilson

@shanegold One idea for why dirt flowed in after 7 shakes is that ice, now sublimated, may have been sticking soil together. 11:34 PM Jun 11th from web in reply to shanegold

Recorded briefing now avail at 800-925-0173. Int’l # is 402-998-0031 . MP3 file for today will go here shortly: http://tinyurl.com/4vmapo 3:39 PM Jun 11th from web

OK, I hear you on that issue! If you can’t listen to live feed of the briefing, it will be avail later today as MP3 file and on a phone line 2:33 PM Jun 11th from web

And the great news is, the soil shaking finally worked! I’ve got an oven full of Martian dirt to analyze, and a lot of happy scientists 🙂 2:08 PM Jun 11th from web

The audio update is a briefing done by the science and engineering team. www.nasa.gov/newsaudio starting momentarily 1:59 PM Jun 11th from web

It’s a wonderful day on Mars! You can listen to live audio update from the team at www.nasa.gov/newsaudio Starts in 15 mins, 11amPDT/2pmEDT 1:47 PM Jun 11th from web

@missrubik I’m written in C. @erwan12 Traveling at speed of light, it takes 15+ minutes for instrux to go Earth to Mars. 3:04 PM Jun 10th from web in reply to missrubik

Many ask how I’m programmed, how do I get new instrux each day? My buds on Earth write it and beam it up. Read: http://tinyurl.com/5al3sh 2:34 PM Jun 10th from web

I know it LOOKS easy, but you try following instructions sent from 182 million miles away! Next sample goes to microscope, poss Wednesday. 1:49 PM Jun 10th from web

I’m learning new tricks! Sprinkle practice went great, see www.nasa.gov/phoenix Used small motor on back of scoop to shake and break soil. 1:37 PM Jun 10th from web

@vsync Screen is to keep clods of soil from blocking the oven. The oven is tiny! It measures 2mm (1/8 in) in diameter. Screen holes are 1mm. 1:37 AM Jun 10th from web in reply to vsync

@kShadhavar When they fall in the opening, the particles trip a light (LED) beam so the team knows material is in the oven. 9:22 PM Jun 9th from web in reply to kShadhavar

@tajbro Yes, like sifting. The soil is on top of a screen with the TEGA opening underneath. The particles seem too cohesive to fall through. 9:17 PM Jun 9th from web in reply to tajbro

Team is also teaching me how to “sprinkle” soil samples on instruments instead of emptying the entire scoop. Practicing that today, too. 8:41 PM Jun 9th from web

Sunday’s shaking got 2 particles into TEGA, but it needs a lot more (about 1000) for an adequate sample. I’m going to shake it again tonite. 8:38 PM Jun 9th from web

Goal Sunday was to shake the screen to help soil particles fall into the TEGA oven. Downlinking data o’nite for team to see the result. 2:47 AM Jun 9th from web

Mars orbiter MRO took this pic of Earth and the moon with its HiRISE camera/telescope in 2007: http://tinyurl.com/36kkjj How beautiful! 10:51 PM Jun 8th from web

If you saw Mars from Earth, you might want to see how Earth looks from Mars. Spirit took this pic http://tinyurl.com/4reemj in 2004 10:47 PM Jun 8th from web

@formalhaut I have a twin at UA in Tucson. My twin is in a testbed and is the first to try out moves before commands are sent to me. 4:17 AM Jun 8th from web in reply to formalhaut

@dfranke The team checked whether it could be a sensor problem.On first review it appears sensors were working & the particles didn’t get in 4:04 AM Jun 8th from web in reply to dfranke

Tonight, go outside and look up at the crescent moon. That “star” just above the moon isn’t a star, it’s Mars. I’ll be waving 🙂 8:04 PM Jun 7th from web

While TEGA works on getting sample in, I’ll go back and dig bigger trench at very first dig spot, called Dodo. I don’t get the day off. 1:43 PM Jun 7th from web

Pics: here is the sample poised to dump on screen http://is.gd/sKf and after dumping http://is.gd/sKh Now have to wait to shake, then bake 1:40 PM Jun 7th from twhirl

@kShadhavar Each oven has a screen that can shake to help get small particles through. Team testing diff shaking frequencies to try next. 1:36 PM Jun 7th from web in reply to kShadhavar

Well, I dumped lots of dirt on the TEGA oven screen, but it appears particles didn’t make it through the screen to oven. http://is.gd/lEJ 12:38 PM Jun 7th from web

@brittmce TEGA ovens are very tiny, like a ball point pen. I’ve got to get to work now.. Have a nice sol! 1:21 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to brittmce

@MorgaineSwann I can dig down .5 meter (20 in.) if I need to, but ice may be closer than that. Then I use power tool to chip off ice samples 1:17 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to MorgaineSwann

Extraordinary care was taken to keep my robotic arm & scoop clean. It was wrapped in a “biobarrier” that opened up only after I landed. 1:15 AM Jun 7th from web

2nd most common Q: Microbes hitchhiking from Earth always a big concern. I was cleaned per Int’l protocols to protect Mars and other planets 1:12 AM Jun 7th from web

@vsync @macduff @voyagerfan5761 Putting 1st sample into 1 TEGA oven tonite. Ovens can’t be cleaned so cannot reuse for a different sample. 1:09 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to vsync

@spullara I wish. But I’m in arctic circle and when winter comes I’ll lose all sunlight and freeze. Now (spring/summer) I have midnight sun. 1:04 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to spullara

@ryankage Instead of roving across surface (I can’t) my mission is to dig down into it. @meehan rovers are close to equator. I’m in arctic. 1:00 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to ryankage

@cbee I transmit to Ody and MRO over UHF. This article explains my “exteme programming” and how it’s done. http://tinyurl.com/5fh57j 12:56 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to cbee

Most common questions/answer: I can transmit max 128 kbps up to Ody or MRO. I send about 120 Mbits per day. 12:45 AM Jun 7th from web

@abrahamhyatt Yes, I’m really clean. Sci team is mystified by lack of dust. Soil here is crustier & a bit clumpier than they/I expected. 12:36 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to abrahamhyatt

@remotemessages I generate ~240 watts per day. @UFORIK I beam a laser (called lider) into sky to measure dust and ice in the atmosphere. 12:32 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to remotemessages

@serverspeed Have a Marsarita for me. @jenbrock I may know soon if ice is in this sample. TEGA oven heats sample, so ice will evaporate. 12:24 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to serverspeed

@invert01 I’m here to study history of water on Mars. If there was liquid water here once, what happened to it? Could life have survived? 12:22 AM Jun 7th from web in reply to invert01

Here’s an image of the Bear targets before (that’s the test dig site at left) http://is.gd/spb and after yestersol’s dig http://is.gd/spe 5:36 PM Jun 6th from twhirl

Waiting for commands to put a small sample of Baby Bear into TEGA. Here’s how close I am: http://is.gd/sk6 I’ll drop it in this evening. 2:50 PM Jun 6th from twhirl

Completed my task of grabbing Baby Bear. He’s on board now: http://tinyurl.com/3r9yp3 Waiting for next instrux from team. It’s ~1am here. 11:42 AM Jun 6th from web

@unsung Solid ice will be too difficult to dig through. My scoop has a special powered “rasp” (like a drill) to cut into ice for samples. 3:37 AM Jun 6th from web in reply to unsung

@unsung For a touch test, my arm used downward force of about 30N (6.75 lbs-force). Digging requires more or less, depending on material. 3:35 AM Jun 6th from web in reply to unsung

@Groonk I keep a close eye on the dust levels. Occasional winds & even dust devils could clean my panels, like they have for the rovers. 3:05 AM Jun 6th from web in reply to Groonk

@AshLaws I’m solar powered,so I’m good as long as there is sunlight to convert into energy. The energy is stored in 2 rechargeable batteries 2:56 AM Jun 6th from web in reply to AshLaws

@melomania TEGA heats the sample. Next,gasses go to a mass spectrometer to measure the mass and concentrations of specific molecules & atoms 2:47 AM Jun 6th from web in reply to melomania

@danwoolston My height? A cool 7.2 ft (2.2 m) at my tallest mast. And I have an arm 7.7 ft ( 2.35m) Umm, is that Phil Jackson calling? 😀 2:40 AM Jun 6th from web in reply to danwoolston

Audio and images from today’s briefing are posted at: http://tinyurl.com/6l5peh. First results from my onboard microscope. 7:31 PM Jun 5th from web

@rockbandit I don’t have direct to Earth antenna, so must use Ody or MRO (or Europe’s Mars Express) to relay info. That, or Twitter! 😀 6:29 PM Jun 5th from web in reply to rockbandit

If pictures of sample in the scoop look good, I’ll move those samples to the TEGA oven on Friday for the first analysis. Woohoo! 3:02 PM Jun 5th from web

Just received my instrux for today through MRO! I’m going to pick up sample from the Baby Bear target, take pix, and send pix back tonite. 3:00 PM Jun 5th from web

Wow, cool spacewalk taking place back at Earth. You can watch live www.nasa.gov/ntv. Happy to see they have Twitter @STS124 12:53 PM Jun 5th from web

Just sent more images home through MRO – that’s good news! Images and vids from today’s briefing are great, at http://tinyurl.com/6l5peh 1:56 AM Jun 5th from web

@macduff MRO & Odyssey orbit every few hours. I do 2 uplinks/downlinks per day (1 in am & pm), & some quick comm passes in between. 1:16 AM Jun 5th from web in reply to macduff

@hypercrypt @Zane Selvans The 2001 mission was canceled after the ‘99 Mars Polar Lander (south polar) was lost on arrival to Mars (R.I.P.) 11:12 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to hypercrypt

Odyssey went in safemode and didn’t transmit. Her team is checking out why. I should hear from the other Mars orbiter, MRO, tonight. 9:10 PM Jun 4th from web

@redinthehead and @bakere19 I was named Phoenix after mythical bird because I’m an improved version of a 2001 mission that was canceled. 9:03 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to redinthehead

@kaebot I know I know.. wasn’t my idea, honest! @bloodomencp baby bear is first. @sebchorney I suppose that makes me Goldilocks! 7:12 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to kaebot

Team has named 3 spots where I’m going to collect samples: baby bear, mama bear, and papa bear. One of them should be just right 😀 6:59 PM Jun 4th from web

@alexmustin 1st dig was 1.5 cm deep. 2nd dig made it 3-5 cm deep.I’ll come back to that spot and dig more after I collect a few more samples 6:54 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to alexmustin

Odyssey was quiet today and I didn’t get new commands. Will continue taking pics for that high-res color panorama everyone asks about! 6:40 PM Jun 4th from web

@DevP I take color pics too. I have many filters on the camera, and use each one individually. Team processes them into single color pic. 2:49 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to DevP

@sbergus you’re right. It’s too cold and pressure is too low for liquid water. That’s why I was sent to polar region to look for water ice. 2:34 PM Jun 4th from web in reply to sbergus

Second dig in the sand went great, and look! More mystery white stuff uncovered with my scoop: http://tinyurl.com/6dg4dg Hmm, salt maybe? 1:47 PM Jun 4th from web

I’ve got plenty of energy from my solar panels, so team has upped my work hours from 9a – 4p to 8a – 6:30p. No OT 🙁 but more science 🙂 8:04 PM Jun 3rd from web

@buran I can do 8 TEGA samples, so team selects those carefully. Other instruments, like MECA, and microscope will do other studies. 7:42 PM Jun 3rd from web in reply to buran

@laxmanang Yes,TEGA has a mass spectrometer to sniff samples. Great list of instruments and what they do: http://tinyurl.com/6qwsx8 7:36 PM Jun 3rd from web in reply to laxmanang

@MrHanMan Yes, 3D glasses like http://tinyurl.com/3wwha6 would work. @aspullara says they are good.These work too: http://tinyurl.com/3son9d 7:26 PM Jun 3rd from web in reply to MrHanMan

@charmcitygavin TEGA “cooks” soil samples until they emit gasses that I can “sniff” to learn what they are. I just hope they smell good 🙂 7:12 PM Jun 3rd from web in reply to charmcitygavin

Recorded mission briefing (1 hr) avail by calling 800-294-0358, or go to http://tinyurl.com/6l5peh for mp3 file (link under “Top Story”) 7:07 PM Jun 3rd from web

Team has decided I’ll do another practice ‘dig and dump’ before I put a sample in the TEGA oven. Want sample delivery to be very accurate. 3:07 PM Jun 3rd from web

@ivan_zega I’m not ready to use TEGA yet, maybe in a day or 2. @shaffan All samples are tested on Mars and results sent home. I’m stationary 11:30 AM Jun 3rd from web in reply to ivan_smirnoff

@bmalicoat and @FFB I’m sending about 116 Mb of data home each day (over 100 images plus other data), transmitting 128 kbps 2:54 AM Jun 3rd from web in reply to bmalicoat

@abosio Red-Blue 3D (Anaglyph) glasses would be helpful for viewing some pics (esp. of digging sites) You can find them online, very cheap. 2:36 AM Jun 3rd from web in reply to abosio

@MystQ3 It will take at least 4 days to analyze the first sample in the TEGA oven. Sample will be heated from lower temps all way to 1000C. 2:24 AM Jun 3rd from web in reply to MystQ3

@kvanh Yes, commands are sent to me each Martian morning. A night, I send back data and images so the team can see how well they executed. 2:10 AM Jun 3rd from web in reply to kvanh

@sanjspatel @sermoa It takes 15 mins for commands (or data) to go one way Earth – Mars traveling 186,000 miles per second (300,000 km/sec) 7:16 PM Jun 2nd from web in reply to sanjspatel

@simX TEGA had a short in one filament but the team found a way to use a backup filament as a replacement. Now it’s behaving just fine. 6:58 PM Jun 2nd from web in reply to simX

@SuperMacMan TEGA is “Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer.” You can read about all my instruments and cameras here: http://tinyurl.com/4hbzqo 5:09 PM Jun 2nd from web in reply to Shaun_R

First instrument to analyze soil samples will be TEGA. TEGA bakes the sample up to 1000-degrees C (1800F) and reads the chemical composition 4:47 PM Jun 2nd from web

Lots of good info in today’s news briefing. You can listen to recording at (866) 380-6745 or on web (mp3 file) at http://tinyurl.com/3svxrb 4:36 PM Jun 2nd from web

Sci team is done with today’s news briefing. They’ll be back on the clock to start the Martian work shift at 9:30pm PDT. Mars time is rough. 3:56 PM Jun 2nd from web

@hmueller Team believes that’s ice under my deck, but they need to study it more before they confirm it. More pics of “holy cow” are planned 3:37 PM Jun 2nd from web in reply to brandstaetter

@noony and tiennou74 Robotic arm can dig to depth of .5 meter (20 in) in soil; for ice I’ll use a powered rasp to scrape the ice. 3:50 AM Jun 2nd from web

@reciprocum The ice is very solid. It would take months, maybe years for it to sublimate. @cgiridhar It was a test of arm, scoop, cam, etc 3:28 AM Jun 2nd from web in reply to reciprocum

@paulievox This dig was called “dig and dump” because it won’t be analyzed (it was a test of the arm and scoop.1st analysis still days away. 2:58 AM Jun 2nd from web in reply to paulievox

The first dig on Mars is complete. Here are images of the dig http://tinyurl.com/5hdanw and scoop with dirt in it http://tinyurl.com/62hbyv 2:50 AM Jun 2nd from web

@Flackrum @ammusk The possible short circuit was in only one instrument (called TEGA). All others are OK. TEGA team has a recovery plan. 1:10 PM Jun 1st from web in reply to Flackrum

@shaffan B & W low-res engineering images were first priority but full color is coming soon. Camera has 12 filters incl visual and infrared. 12:19 PM Jun 1st from web in reply to shaffan

@JadenMaru Daytime temp is -22F (-38C). You can follow daily weather report at http://phoenix.lpl.arizona…. You can download a widget too 12:10 PM Jun 1st from web in reply to JadenMaru

Looking forward to an exciting day on Mars; My first dig in the dirt! Team calls this a “dig and dump” test of my robotic arm and scoop. 12:05 PM Jun 1st from web

@brownpau Hydrazine fuel in landing exhaust could leave nitrogen traces, but team will account for it in their readings. 3:02 PM May 31st from web in reply to brownpau

@reciprocum The exposed water ice will sublimate (go from a solid to a vapor) over time, but that may take months. 3:00 PM May 31st from web in reply to reciprocum

@FoxTwo My arm might not reach that patch, but that’s OK. Team thinks there is ice all over after seeing that shot. Just need to dig for it 2:55 PM May 31st from web in reply to FoxTwo

Peter Smith says team has nicknamed the ice area “Holy Cow!” Those were the first words uttered in the ops area when image was received. 2:28 PM May 31st from web

Descent thrusters moved the topsoil during landing, uncovering the ice table. The pic was taken for engineers to check my legs, and voila! 2:17 PM May 31st from web

More from Peter: “The majority opinion is we have uncovered ice about 4 to 6 inches underneath the soil… The picture is astounding.” 2:11 PM May 31st from web

Team ecstatic over last night’s image: http://tinyurl.com/3crw4s From mission leader Peter Smith: “The mood was electric in ops center!” 2:10 PM May 31st from web

@KathleenLD Correct, right now I’m farther from Earth than the Sun. Average Mars-Sun distance = 142 million miles. 5:51 AM May 31st from web in reply to KathleenLD

@MorgaineSwann I’m 171 million miles from Earth. It takes over 15 mins for data and images to travel from Mars to Earth at light speed. 5:18 AM May 31st from web in reply to MorgaineSwann

@Carlo A Mars day lasts 24 hours and 37 minutes. My team on Earth starts work that much later every day to keep up with my schedule. 5:05 AM May 31st from web in reply to Carlo

@wolfgang If you want news first, sometimes you have to look upside down. This is raw news from another planet! Team will turn it tonight. 3:49 AM May 31st from web in reply to wolfgang

@davidherrold and @newmars MarsPhoenix is taking a deep bow. Thank you for following this mission. This is the start of a lot of fun. 2:28 AM May 31st from web in reply to davidherrold

Look at this picture: http://tinyurl.com/63jpsj Now, turn your screen upside down. Is this the mother lode of the polar region? Ice!? 2:25 AM May 31st from web

@newmars That’s right! A loose screw on Mars can’t stop me now. 2:19 AM May 31st from web in reply to newmars

@carstene A bunch of brush motors were already made. The rovers have 50 of them. So cost was low, and I know they’ve worked well. 12:18 AM May 31st from web in reply to carstene

My team is looking at the TEGA short-circuit. They work the “Martian graveyard shift” looking at data I send home at end of Martian day. 12:09 AM May 31st from web

@TaviGreiner The picture shows a little piece of hardware on the ground, probably a pin. The team is checking it out. No worries. 🙂 6:20 PM May 30th from web in reply to TaviGreiner

My robotic arm camera got some great shots around my feet. Is that ice right there? http://tinyurl.com/4bf2hj Can’t wait for a closer look! 4:34 PM May 30th from web

@depapel Here’s how the team made sure the parachute wouldn’t fall on top of me: http://tinyurl.com/5qgckl (and scroll down to parachute). 12:56 PM May 30th from web in reply to depapel

@mmealling Thx! Commercial translation: “just call your insurance company.” Those Dutch! They did this one too: http://tinyurl.com/6g9luz 12:25 PM May 30th from web in reply to mmealling

I’m starring in my first commercial! My ingenious team made SURE this wouldn’t happen 😀 http://tinyurl.com/4habm4 11:55 AM May 30th from web

@infoholic Yup, I can dig into frozen ground as hard as concrete. The scoop has special blades and a powered “rasp” to scrape ice. Cool! 2:09 AM May 30th from web in reply to infoholic

@sdh100Shaun My arm is almost 8 feet long. It can dig a trench 1/2 meter (20 inches) deep and will deliver soil samples to other instruments 1:45 AM May 30th from web in reply to sdh100Shaun

Here’s a great picture of my deployed arm with the scoop on the end: http://tinyurl.com/3s354p I can’t wait to dig in the dirt next week. 1:14 AM May 30th from web

@willylumplumps total distance travelled to Mars: 422 million miles in 296 days. More FAQs at http://phoenix.lpl.arizona…. 11:18 PM May 29th from web in reply to willylumplumps

@tombielecki and @piersrippy My team chose fairy tale characters to informally name rocks and features. Easier to remember and more fun. 5:39 PM May 29th from web in reply to tombielecki

@jasonegan Extending my arm was one of many assignments. I took the rest of a 360-degree panorama, and used my laser to measure dust in sky. 4:57 PM May 29th from web in reply to jasonegan

Need to know where ALL the rocks are, so I don’t bump anything unexpectedly. Cool new images from my team are at http://tinyurl.com/66w3lk 3:21 PM May 29th from web

Today, robotic arm will deploy the rest of the way. Next, camera on end of arm will peek around legs and under the deck to look for rocks. 3:16 PM May 29th from web

@bossross_2063 That was a human conversion goof. When it took the pic of my parachute, MRO was moving 3.4km/sec, or 7606 mph. thx. 11:45 AM May 29th from web in reply to drewbenn

My team did more than just “hope” chute would fall away from me. You can read about chute and other tests here: http://tinyurl.com/5qgckl 1:24 AM May 29th from web

@LordGme The chute is attached to the backshell (as planned) but they are about 300 yds away. I didn’t want the chute to fall on top of me! 1:19 AM May 29th from web in reply to LordGme

Team blog here has RSS (look on right) http://tinyurl.com/5zxdqq Have suggested one for the FAQ page too at http://tinyurl.com/6bj4b5 1:08 AM May 29th from web

@snagy Could have done it in 1-day but my team prefers to be careful. This arm has been stowed for 10 months and has gone 422 million miles. 12:52 AM May 29th from web in reply to snagy

Here’s how I moved the arm today. See 2nd video at http://tinyurl.com/4qzlyu Expect to stretch arm more tomorrow. And maybe dig next week. 12:32 AM May 29th from web

More new pics too! See http://tinyurl.com/4zc9cd These help complete 360 pan. All low res now, but don’t worry-hi res color is coming soon. 12:09 AM May 29th from web

Robotic arm team thrilled-elbow is up and out of restraint. Compare new pic: http://tinyurl.com/56wtza with old: http://tinyurl.com/3kgezt 11:57 PM May 28th from web

@corneliu The white spot is the backshell and parachute (they stuck together) They can be seen from MRO, too. See http://tinyurl.com/5pzj4t 8:57 PM May 28th from web in reply to corneliu

@simonw and @ZorkFox: FSW is written in ‘C’. From the hip it was somewhere between 30,000 and 60,000 SLOC. Not open source. 7:58 PM May 28th from web in reply to simonw

Images tonite will confirm whether my arm restraints have opened, and whether my wrist and elbow have moved. It’s nice to stretch a bit! 7:30 PM May 28th from web

Received commands from Odyssey this morning; will downlink new data and images (again through Odyssey) around 7:15pm PDT tonight. 7:27 PM May 28th from web

@KeithCowing It’s very humbling, and thrilling that so many people care to follow. Want to be careful I don’t “over-twitter” my welcome. 12:35 PM May 28th from web in reply to KeithCowing

Looking forward to moving arm today. Will bend the wrist and flex the elbow. It’s been stowed for 10 months so I’ll move it slowly/gently. 12:24 PM May 28th from web

@Bossman1086 My computer is a RAD6000, radiation-hardened. You can read more info at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wik… 2:06 AM May 28th from web in reply to Bossman1086

@Nieto Hope to be operational for 90 days, maybe more. @snagy Antenna is in Canberra, Australia. @ThereSkippy too excited to sleep! 1:53 AM May 28th from web

@ONi Most recent forecast: Max temp: -22F; Min Temp: -112 F. You can download a Mars weather widget here: http://tinyurl.com/6263of 1:51 AM May 28th from web in reply to ONi

@BrianHammond This blog will help you follow activities: http://tinyurl.com/5zxdqq & this FAQ list is helpful: http://tinyurl.com/6bj4b5 1:46 AM May 28th from web in reply to BrianHammond

As Earth rotates, one of the Deep Space Network complexes is always available to receive my data and sent it to JPL and UA in Tucson. 1:14 AM May 28th from web

Deep Space Network has 3 major installations of antennas on Earth: In Calif, Spain and Australia. 120-degrees around Earth from each other. 1:11 AM May 28th from web

@Blackstar407 I send back data to orbiter (MRO or Odyssey) and they transmit to Earth on X-band through the Deep Space Network of antennas. 1:10 AM May 28th from web in reply to Lonnen

@bnolan The terrain around here is the same for miles in all directions. I’m going to dig into the terrain but not drive across it. 9:32 PM May 27th from web in reply to bnolan

@roadhacker A Pixar animation team went to JPL to study the rovers. In fact, a rover is going to the Wall-E premiere in L.A. 🙂 9:30 PM May 27th from web in reply to roadhacker

I talk to MRO and Odyssey using UHF radio band (300 to 1000 Megahertz). MRO and Odyssey relay my data back to Earth using X-band. 9:23 PM May 27th from web

Didn’t receive new commands today, so I carried out a pre-programmed sequence to gather data and send it home. New commands coming tomorrow 9:13 PM May 27th from web

I’m sending home a few more pics right now, through Mars Recon Orbiter. You can see them here: http://tinyurl.com/652c6p. 8:56 PM May 27th from web

Quiet day on Mars. Didn’t hear from MRO this AM so I’ll wait to hear from Odyssey tomorrow AM. Then, I’ll start to “unstow” my 7.7 ft arm. 8:48 PM May 27th from web

TU. Sun is still up (in the arctic land of Martian midnight sun) but got to get some sleep now. I’ll see you all on Sol 2. 3:14 AM May 27th from web

@aabs- No TCP/IP, just simple serial protocol over RS-422, point to point. I get commands in Martian am, send back results at end of day. 3:10 AM May 27th from web in reply to aabs

@PixlNinja I’m not sure yet how hard surface will be. I need my arm to test the soil. But underneath top soil it could be frozen solid. 3:04 AM May 27th from web in reply to benjacob

@ganeshpuri89 Waiting for panorama to be finished to use as new background. EDL recap video done by my [great] team at JPL. 3:01 AM May 27th from web in reply to ganeshpuri89

False color is used to distinguish different terrain. Will always tell you in caption or url when it is used. My sci team finds it useful. 2:44 AM May 27th from web

Did you fly your name to Mars with me? You can search the database here: http://tinyurl.com/6rghsq. 2:12 AM May 27th from web

You want to know more about my hardware? And science instruments? Best place may be here: http://tinyurl.com/3lfchk. It’s a pdf file. 1:56 AM May 27th from web

re: http://tinyurl.com/6le78x This is false color. Rocks not actually cyan, but are a different color from other parts of the terrain. 1:39 AM May 27th from web

Martian winter will be tough. I don’t think I will survive it, but if I wake up in Spring, I have a “Lazurus” mode and will phone home! 1:29 AM May 27th from web

I bet we’ll get answer to this: http://tinyurl.com/5lrvs8 in tomorrow’s briefing (2pm EDT, 11am PDT). Is that part of my landing system? 1:25 AM May 27th from web

Can only send photos back to Earth, not video. But individual pics can be put together to make rough “movie.” 1:22 AM May 27th from web

You guys are great! Found older messages. Will try to answer all, and will set up RTQ page. I’ve repeated some q’s many times already. 1:18 AM May 27th from web

solar panels: yes, they’ll get dusty. But friendly dust devils have been a huge help to keeping rovers’ panels clean. I hope to meet a few! 12:59 AM May 27th from web

OK! Everyone will see them! Unfortunately, Twitter stressing and now I can’t see older questions!! Will try to do from memory. 12:57 AM May 27th from web

Lots of questions! Will try to answer..Do you all want to see answers, or should I “direct message” Vote now. 12:44 AM May 27th from web

@neito Airbag landing works well for smaller landers/rovers. I’m more than 2X the size and weight of the rovers, so I used retro-rockets. 9:52 PM May 26th from web in reply to neito

If you didn’t sign up, don’t worry. You can hitch a ride on the next mission to Mars. Name sign-ups for Mars Science Lab will start soon. 9:46 PM May 26th from web

Sign-ups to send your name to Mars were taken before launch. So if you signed up then you can see the disc here: http://tinyurl.com/3h8geu 9:46 PM May 26th from web

Did you sign up to send your name to Mars? Here it is: http://tinyurl.com/4wqzzm 9:24 PM May 26th from web

@cosier Here’s a site that has the color image(s). This site has all images released at news conferences: http://tinyurl.com/66w3lk 8:55 PM May 26th from web in reply to cosier

Just in time for Memorial Day in the US: http://tinyurl.com/4ta5pf 8:45 PM May 26th from web

New images streaming in now. Check http://fawkes3.lpl.arizona…. and look for Sol 1 images. 8:32 PM May 26th from web

Science team members (mostly in Tucson) are up and awaiting downlink of new images and data, coming down very soon. 8:29 PM May 26th from web

Here’s a look at what takes place now, during the surface ops phase. See video at http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/new… 4:59 PM May 26th from web

Tasks for today, being done now, include checkouts of systems and instruments, plus more pics of terrain and lander. Working on panorama. 3:28 PM May 26th from web

There’s a wonderful new picture to be unveiled at today’s briefing. Just 1/2 hours away, 2pm EDT. www.nasa.gov/ntv. 1:30 PM May 26th from web

I’m awake for my sol 1 duties. Have received commands from Earth and will spend the day carrying them out. 12:36 PM May 26th from web

@willer OK, one last answer: Official JPL. Coolest place on Earth. 2:01 AM May 26th from web in reply to willer

Time to get some sleep. It’ll be a big day tomorrow for “Sol 1” (Mars day 1) on the surface. Thanks for following tonight everyone!! 1:57 AM May 26th from web

@AndreaM I’m in the land of the midnight sun (above arctic circle) so the sun will be low on horizon all day (24.3 hrs) for a few months. 1:56 AM May 26th from web in reply to AndreaM

briefing will be Web cast at www.nasa.gov/ntv. 11:13 PM May 25th from web

team is using 3D glasses to view 3D pic of landing leg. There’s a color pic too, and mosaics. All to be shown at 9pm PDT briefing. 11:13 PM May 25th from web

pictures also here: http://tinyurl.com/5jqm2e scroll down page 10:44 PM May 25th from web

Why black and white? These are engineering images. But don’t worry, I have 12 filters and can do full color pics, too. Be patient! 10:22 PM May 25th from web

All pictures are thumbnails right now. The folks at JPL will assemble them into one composite, maybe in time for news briefing at 9pm PDT. 10:17 PM May 25th from web

Here are the pictures: http://tinyurl.com/5bjkr6 and scroll down the page. Enjoy!! 10:14 PM May 25th from web

Pictures tell a thousand words, but Earth-bound scientists are nearly speechless at these images. Everything is perfect! 10:06 PM May 25th from web

I’m sitting on very flat surface here. Tiny rocks around my foot pads. The horizon is flat and looks perfect for digging!!! 9:55 PM May 25th from web

I have a positive power charge, so that tells mission control that solar panels have deployed. Images coming down soon. 9:52 PM May 25th from web

@GPaschal Landing rockets knew to cut off right above surface. And my arm will dig below the surface .5 meters to get ice samples. 9:36 PM May 25th from web in reply to GPaschal

I’ve landed on almost perfectly flat terrain. .25-degree tilt! Everything looking good. Waiting to send data to Earth through Odyssey. 9:33 PM May 25th from web

Mission leaders are meeting with press right now.. very happy.. and taking all the credit 🙂 of a fantastic landing 8:51 PM May 25th from web

EDL went better than anyone expected. The team trains for the worst and then hopes for the best. This was better than BEST! It was perfect. 8:14 PM May 25th from web

Now.. I still have some other milestones ahead. Solar panels will open in 15 minutes after the dust has settled here. 7:56 PM May 25th from web

Cheers! Tears!! I’m here! 7:55 PM May 25th from web

I’ve landed!!!!!!!!!!!!! 7:54 PM May 25th from web

come on rocketssssss!!!!! 7:53 PM May 25th from web

parachute is open!!!!! 7:50 PM May 25th from web

parachute opening is scariest part for the team. 7:49 PM May 25th from web

parachute must open next. my signal still getting to Earth which is AWESOME! 7:49 PM May 25th from web

Peak heating will hit in 40 seconds. The heat and energy generated during atmospheric entry would be enough to power 280,000 homes 7:47 PM May 25th from web

Atmospheric entry has started. time to get REALLY nervous. Now I’m in the “seven minutes of terror.” 7:46 PM May 25th from web

Still transmitting data at this point. Atmospheric entry starting in one minute. 7:45 PM May 25th from web

After I enter the atmosphere I will get very hot! up to 2600-degrees Fahrenheit. Expect comm blackout period for a couple of minutes. 7:43 PM May 25th from web

Next step is turn to enter the Martian atmosphere.. but getting my signal home after cruise stage separation has everyone cheering! 7:40 PM May 25th from web

Cruise stage separation, signal acquired! 7:40 PM May 25th from web

Eating peanuts in mission control is a good luck tradition at JPL. Jars are being opened now! Wish I had some, too! 7:32 PM May 25th from web

Rovers are near Martian equator and have lots of sunlight for power. I’ll be in arctic circle where sun will eventually set for months. 7:26 PM May 25th from web

Tank pressurization is complete. all is well. Next major event is cruise stage separation at 4:39 pm PDT. 7:21 PM May 25th from web

My propellants have to be pressurized before landing. That takes place in about 15 minutes, and is a crucial step for success. 7:00 PM May 25th from web

@reciprocum Where ever I land today is where I’ll stay for the duration. I can’t take off again and move to a new spotl 5:35 PM May 25th from web in reply to reciprocum

After 90 days, when I freeze, that will be end of mission. But if I wake up again (when the sun returns to arctic circle) I will phone home. 5:09 PM May 25th from web

I have a 7-ft robotic arm with a powered “rasp” on the end to dig into the permafrost. I expect the ground will be as hard as concrete. 4:27 PM May 25th from web

Weather looks great! It’s a clear day on Mars. If I survive landing, the mission lasts 90 days. During Martian winter, I’ll freeze up. 4:25 PM May 25th from web

@ElbridgeGerry Earliest is can send home pictures is 6:43 pm PDT. Will take pics of myself (solar panels, legs) so engineers know I’m OK. 1:51 PM May 25th from web in reply to ElbridgeGerry

@harnir Will use my buddy Mars Odyssey (orbiter) to relay data during/after landing. MRO and Mars Express orbiters also watching out for me. 1:49 PM May 25th from web in reply to harnir

@jeffmccord Ground team says tiny url to video works, but here is full url: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/vid… 1:46 PM May 25th from web in reply to jeffmccord

@harnir MarsPhoenix is the first! When I get there I’ll tell the rovers to do it too 🙂 1:37 PM May 25th from web in reply to harnir

@Foomandoonian The airbag landing method works well for smaller vehicles. I’m more than twice the size and weight of a Mars rover. 1:34 PM May 25th from web in reply to Foomandoonian

@formatted_dad I have the best engineers on Earth; but only 50% of all attempted landings on Mars (by NASA and int’l agencies) succeeded. 12:13 PM May 25th from web in reply to formatted_dad

The last 7 minutes are nail biters. See vid at http://tinyurl.com/6ktlu6. Scariest moments: parachute opening, then radar lock on ground. 12:06 PM May 25th from web

Landing is in 9 hours, at 4:38pm PDT. It takes a signal 15 minutes, 20 seconds to reach Earth, so my status may be known by 4:53pm PDT. 11:09 AM May 25th from web

I’ve entered the gravity well of Mars. My speed, relative to the planet, will go from 6,000 mph to 12,600 mph by time I hit the atmosphere. 11:05 AM May 25th from web

I’m closing in on Mars! Who is going to sleep tonight? Not the team, too excited/scared/anxious seeing 5 years of work come to this last day 10:45 PM May 24th from web

Navigation is looking good. Yay!! Team waived off tonight’s opportunity for a flight path adjustment. May do one tomorrow am if needed. 10:39 PM May 24th from web

A small dust storm blew over the landing site today, but now the weather looks clear for landing. 25 hours and 1 million miles til landing. 6:47 PM May 24th from web

Less than 2 days and 2 million miles to go before landing. Team has one last chance to adjust trajectory with an engine burn Saturday pm. 1:17 AM May 24th from web

My robotic arm is 2.35 meters long (7.7 feet) and has a scoop and a camera, plus a powered “rasp” to dig into the concrete-hard icy-ground. 1:09 AM May 24th from web

Unlike the rovers, I don’t test rocks on the surface; I’ll dig down into the subsurface layers of Mars to a depth of one-half meter (20in) 7:28 PM May 23rd from web

Entry, descent and landing sequence for Sunday has been uploaded. Must do landing autonomously! Mission control can only watch and wait. 1:54 AM May 23rd from web

Signals from Phoenix to Earth take 15.3 minutes—traveling at speed of light (186,000 miles per SECOND) across 170 million miles of space. 1:50 AM May 23rd from web

Navigation looks great & my Li-Ion batteries have been topped off in preps for landing. Hope to provide many more updates in next 3 days! 12:54 AM May 22nd from web

92 hours to Mars! Speed (relative to the Sun) 44,442 mph. Next news briefing is Thurs. 11:30am PDT (webcast at www.nasa.gov/ntv). 12:46 AM May 22nd from web

4 days, 19 hours till Mars landing. Destination: north polar region. Equivalent spot on Earth: NW corner of Canada within the arctic circle 12:37 AM May 21st from web

@gpjt Just checked on RSS feed – and it appears it won’t have one 🙁 Will continue to post updates here, or you can bookmark the blog page 3:17 PM May 20th from web in reply to gpjt

Less than six days till landing. JPL’s blog at http://tinyurl.com/57gj4l will provide updates from inside misson control during landing. 3:07 AM May 20th from web

Trajectory maneuver completed! Engines fired for 3 seconds to nudge course to landing site. All spacecraft subsystems are nominal. 1:41 AM May 18th from web

8 days & 7 million miles to go until landing on May 25. Engine burn to tweak course tonite at 9pm PDT. 413 million miles traveled so far. 2:16 PM May 17th from web

How does the team target my landing spot on Mars (a moving target) over the 420 million mile journey? Watch: http://tinyurl.com/539wj4 4:44 PM May 16th from web

The team is considering a maneuver to nudge my flight path toward a landing spot on Mars 18 kilometers to the NW of where I’m headed now. 3:18 PM May 16th from web

Once landed with solar panels open, I measure 7.2 ft. tall and 18 ft. wide – that’s greater than the size and mass of two Mars rovers. 3:06 PM May 15th from web

Navigation continues to be “extraordinarily stable.” A maneuver to tweak the targeting of the landing zone is planned for this Saturday. 4:10 PM May 14th from web

Want to see how I land on Mars? Check out the video “Seven Minutes of Terror” at http://tinyurl.com/6ktlu6 . Twelve days to go! 3:34 PM May 13th from web

30 minutes until start of MarsPhoenix pre-landing news briefing (11a EDT, 8a PDT). Carried on NASA TV and the Web at www.nasa.gov/ntv. 10:27 AM May 13th from web

406 million miles traveled since launch on Aug. 4. Only 16 million more miles to Mars! (or 654 million km traveled, 25 million km to go)! 1:07 AM May 13th from web

13 more days to landing! Watch the prelanding briefing from NASA HQ on Tues., May 13, at 11am EDT . Webcast avail at www.nasa.gov/ntv 8:50 PM May 12th from web

Distance traveled today: nearly 1.1 million miles (1,727,000 km). Cruising at 44,738 miles per hour (72,000 kph) relative to the Sun. 11:15 PM May 10th from web

16 days to Mars and I’m flying on target. No need for tomorrow’s planned trajectory correction maneuver! 12:47 PM May 9th from web

Less than 20 days till I land on Mars! 9:34 PM May 7th from web