This artist's concept of the Phoenix lander shows the spacecraft during the final stages of its descent to the Martian surface on May 25, 2008. After parachutes slow Phoenix during its plunge through the thin Martian air, retrorockets will take over during the final stages of the landing.
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona.

This picture shows what an artist thinks Phoenix might look like as it lands on Mars. Phoenix will first use parachutes to slow it down. Just before it reaches the ground it will turn on its retrorockets. Phoenix will land on May 25, 2008.
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona.

This picture shows what an artist thinks Phoenix might look like as it lands on Mars. Phoenix will first use parachutes to slow it down. Just before it reaches the ground it will turn on its retrorockets. Phoenix will land on May 25, 2008.
Image courtesy of NASA/JPL-Calech/University of Arizona.

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