This Week on Mars

Success sometimes comes in small packages. Scientists are learning to operate the Phoenix scoop with precision and gathering specific samples of the Martian soil.

This week the team made 50 scrapes with the Phoenix Lander scoop in the Snow White Trench. They gathered these in to small piles equaling only teaspoons of material.

Each pile of soil comes from a particular sample area within the Snow Trench. Some of the piles are believed to have a high enough ice content to show water in the tests.

The scoop will now move a sample of the Martian soil from one of the small piles in to the TEGA for analysis.

The team appears to be getting the more mechanical aspects of the Phoenix Lander Mission under control. Next we see how the testing equipment does. And then, we'll have more answers.

For more information on the this story, check out the NASA Jet Propulsion Lab website for their press release on the Snow White scrapings.

Smiles. ET

Phoenix Mars Lander Successfully Lands On Mars: 5.25.08

CNN reporting the actual landing on Mars of the Phoenix Lander.

Opps CNN...there are two rovers on Mars

Just wanted to note that the commentator in the CNN video of the Phoenix Mars Lander says it is the first landing on Mars in thirty years. Not sure he had his info straight on that.

Turns out there are actually two rovers active on Mars at this moment. Admitedly, the Spirit rover is moving in slow motion, but it is on Mars and in communication with NASA. 

You will find more on this story in the article "Two Rovers Active on Mars" over at Uduzit.

I have another interesting story or two to share with you from my space exploration surfing this week.  

Normally, I will post on Galaxy Voyager about five times a week, and more often with breaking news. I am on a roll this weekend.

Do enjoy! 

Smiles. ET

Welcome to Galaxy Voyager

It is nice to have you drop by. Let me explain where the Galaxy Voyager blog is going.

We will scour the Internet for the latest news, best blogs, and the greatest websites on the subject of Space Exploration. We will update regularly so you will be assured you will find  the latest information on a variety of subjects.

The Blog List at the bottom of this page represents the best resources I can currently find on the Internet related to Space Exploration. You have the classic NASA and Hubble websites, and others with a great deal of information on space exploration and space travel.

I also have mentioned several blogs that cover Space. You will find basic coverage of the Phoenix Mars Lander Mission on Uduzit.

The current hot story is yesterdays'  NASA news release concerning mounting evidence of water on Mars. Uduzit covers that story, though Ethan over at Starts With A Bang has quite a different take on the subject.

We will be watching the Mars Mission closely, so to start you out I have included the original news clip for the successful landing of the Phoenix Mars Lander 23 days ago. We will use plenty videos, images, and animations to tell our news here.