The NASA Phoenix Lander Spacecraft's nine month, 422 million mile journey came to a successful end yesterday as it safely touched down on the surface of the Red Planet. NASA Scientists waited with abated breath as the spacecraft slowed from speeds of over 12,000 mph to just about 5mph before coming to a complete halt.

NASA's previous attempt at sending a Spacecraft Lander in 1999, failed miserably, when it crash-landed and was destroyed. While the 2004 landing of the Mars Rovers (which are still there), was more successful, they were sent to the Planet on cushy airbags.

As soon as the dust settled, the Phoenix Lander started to open up its solar panels (see picture), so that it could start to generate the solar power it needs to run experiments.

Within a few hours, pictures of the surface of the Red Planet, like the ones posted here, started to trickle into NASA's headquarters.

NASA scientists are so far very excited with the pictures. For one they show that Phoenix has landed in the area it was supposed to. Also, they reveal a landscape that is very flat and with polygon patterns, consistent with those that form on Earth, caused by the freezing and thawing of ice.

For the next three months, the Phoenix Lander will use its many instruments and devices to conduct experiments with soil and atmospheric samples from the Red Planet, in an attempt to once and for all answer the age-old question - Is there life on the Red Planet? We all wait with abated breath!