Science & Technology - Phoenix spacecraft: On course for Mars

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Phoenix spacecraft: On course for Mars

PASADENA, Calif. (UPI) -- The U.S. space agency says its Phoenix Mars Lander is on course for a May 25 landing on Mars.

National Aeronautics and Space Administration scientists targeted the spacecraft's certified landing site with a trajectory correction maneuver April 10. But, since then, officials say the spacecraft's performance has been stable enough to allow Jet Propulsion Laboratory controllers to skip a scheduled opportunity for an additional trajectory correction maneuver May 10 and focus on the next such opportunity Saturday.

Phoenix has performed three flight path corrections since its Aug. 4, 2007, launch. The final opportunity for adjusting course will be during the final 24 hours before landing.

NASA said the first possible confirmation time for the spacecraft's May 25 landing will be at 4:53 p.m. PDT. The event would have occurred 15 minutes and 20 seconds earlier on Mars -- the time it takes radio signals traveling at the speed of light to travel from Mars to Earth.

Copyright 2008 by United Press International

This news arrived on: 05/12/2008

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