Amazing photo of Phoenix during descent

Written on 2008-05-26 at 20:42 by dudegalea.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) used its HiRISE camera to take this incredible photograph of Phoenix during its descent toward Mars. You can see Phoenix at the bottom, the parachute canopy at the top, and even the chords attaching the backshell to the parachute. MRO was 760km above the surface of Mars at the time.

With the successful landing of Phoenix, mankind has now brought the success rate of Mars landings up to 50%.

UPDATE: And see this picture in its full context.

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