NASA’s Phoenix Lander: 30 Days on Mars

It’s a banner day today for NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander, which hit the 30-day mark of its initial three-month mission to study the bleak Martian arctic for buried water ice. Not only is today Sol 30 (a sol is a Martian day) for Phoenix, but it’s also the summer solstice on Mars, where the sun hits the northernmost point of its path across the sky. Earth’s own summer solstice was last Saturday, June 21. Phoenix is poised to “taste” Martian soil in this image taken on June 24, 2008. Credit: N