On August 4, NASA launched a Delta II Rocket carrying the Phoenix Mars Lander at Cape Canaveral Air Force Base. In less than 90 minutes, the spacecraft had left Earth’s orbit headed for the Red Planet. It will take about 10 months for the Phoenix to get there.
The Planetary Society provided part of the mission payload. A mini-DVD on the spacecraft contains personal greetings form space visionaries, plus 80 stories and articles by leading writers and scientists. A collection of Mars artwork and classic radio shows narrated by Patrick Stewart is also included.
Phoenix will land on the northern plains of Mars looking for evidence of past life.
...................................................................................................
I came across a web site that generates pictures like the one's below. Go there and amuse yourself like I did.
