Which resurrected bird is currently taking a dig at the god of war?

1cyprus

That will be NASA's latest Mars landing.This one called Phoenix has landed at the pole in the same way the lunar landings were carried out. Apparently NASA wanted to prove they could still safely land with parachutes and thrusters, something they hadn't done since the lunar landings. Phoenix will be digging to get to the burried icewater at the poles. http://phoenix.lpl.arizona.edu/ May 26 08, 12:01 AM

queproblema

Yes, 1cyprus! The last soft landing on Mars was in 1976; the rovers of 1997 and 2004 used bounce cushions. "Phoenix is equipped with an 8-foot-long arm capable of digging trenches in the soil to get to ice that is believed to be buried inches to a foot deep." http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/05/25/tech/main4125940.shtml Mars, of course, was the Roman god of war. May 26 08, 2:06 AM

ceetee

Parachutes cannot be used in lunar landings because the lack of atmosphere makes it rather impractical. The last Mars lander to come down on thrusters was, I think, Viking 2 in September 1976. No lunar landing occurred at the poles either. http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/viking.html May 26 08, 5:18 AM