[X] My Assistant

[Bill Harris]

I may still be busy away from the 'puter, but I'll catch the evening news.

This is a far cry from the first Mariner flyby. A few 200x200 pixel images that took four days to be transmitted to Earth. The first view of Mars was via newspaper halftone a day or so after the flyby.

Same thrill, though...

--Bill

[imipak]

T -9:00; ...is the Solar System Simulator down, or is it just me?

[MahFL]

I could not get the simulator working yesterday.

[nprev]

T-8 hrs.

Didn't work for me earlier today, either; wonder if they're getting hammered.

[Gonzz]

I'll be working at home and following the landing at the same time, absolutely glued to the computer screen (but not necessarily glued to my work ) .

Tonight is going to be an all nighter, I'm absolutely confident on a sucessfull landing, go Pheonix! Almost there now

See all of you folks later here at UMSF to start the celebrations!

[Stu]

Here at Mission Control Kendal preparations are well underway for the Phoenix landing... Pluto (as in "... is still a planet", my much-travelled mascot Outreach mascot ) is sitting on top of Monitor A which is showing the Daniel Muller countdown, and a big bag of NASA approved dry roasted peanuts is next to Monitor B, displaying UMSF...



Tick tick tick...

[MarsEngineer]

It's been a real boost the to Phoenix team to know that so many people are cheering them on!

I have to second Veronica's comment. Even though these teams work in a "fishbowl", when you are on the inside it is surprisingly easy to think that you are all alone and to forget that there are people outside of the bowl who are cheering for you.

Back in 1994 when we were designing and testing Mars Pathfinder, we were (mostly) all holed up on the 2nd floor of windowless building 230 (just a few feet above the MSA room where you will see tension and cheering this afternoon). For some reason we thought we were the only people on the planet who were interested in building a lander and a little rover to go to Mars. For me that impression was forever washed away (in a good way) in Oct of '94. That was when a few of us engineers joined some scientists (like Matt G) and teachers on a field trip to the channeled scablands of eastern Washington state (my home state). After a week of imagining our spacecraft bouncing and driving over these rough terrains, we were asked to stop by a junior high school in Spokane to talk to students and the locals one rainy friday night. We had few materials to share but neither did we expect many visitors. To our complete and utter amazement, we were overwhelmed with excited kids, parents and teachers. They heard about our visit via a small notice in the local paper. Interest had spread like wildfire.

After that we were transformed. We suddenly realized that we were not alone on that crowded 2nd floor. We stopped doing this mission for ourselves and instead realized that we were doing it for a lot of people (people like you). It scared us but it made us more commited than ever to succeed.

I have occasionally reminded the Phoenix team members to step outside their fishbowl and look around them (UMSF is one of my examples). As it did with me in 1994, it also scares them to see so many people watching over their shoulders, but it also helps bring an intense focus and an unselfishness to their work. It is no longer about making their "bosses" happy, it is about being entrusted to try hard and good things for our precious humanity. Its a big, proud hat to wear, but one that is not easily earned. I think this team has earned its hat, regardless of what happens today.

Your enthusiasm and support for what we humbly attempt makes a huge difference for us. Thank you all.

GO PHOENIX!

-Rob

[fredk]

I could not get the simulator working yesterday.

Me too. But according to dmuller's real time simulation, I calculate the current angular size of Mars to be just over 4.5 degrees. That's nine times the diameter (more than 80 times the area) of the moon from Earth! Just imagine that view out the "front window" of Phoenix! I'm sure you could pick out many land features by eye now...

[Gonzz]

Mars Pathfinder made me fall in love with space exploration.

I was sitting at home, late night, watching CNN live, waiting for those precious little images of a new world.

When I first saw them they changed me, they changed the way I understood Earth, Mars and the Universe. Outer space became real to me. A physical reality, no longer an abstraction. I was in awe.

You made me peer outward, for that I am tremendously thankfull.
Thank you so much

[Stu]

Thanks for that Rob. And if any of the Phoenix team get to read this whilst lurking in the UMSF shadows (when they REALLY should be working on a safe landing!! Oi! Get back to work and stop skiving!! ) then can I wish you all a successful night, and just let you know that we are already in awe of what you've achieved, and proud of your determination and drive, regardless of which numbers the cosmic dice show in 7 hours time.

Go get 'em guys!

[nprev]

Thanks for that, Rob! And, of course, to all members of the Phoenix team who might read this we DEFINITELY aren't trying to put any pressure on you; hell, we're your biggest fans, think of us as an online support system!

Godspeed, good luck, good feelings, and hang in there!

[Ant103]

A post just to sayt that I will be with you for the landing of Phoenix. I don't want to miss it, even if it will be late (about 4 o'clock, gargle...).
Go Phoenix .

[nprev]

FYI, just tried to go to the UA Phoenix site; didn't work. Think they're starting to get hammered. We (UMSF) are getting busier too...

[mhoward]

Good luck and godspeed, Phoenix. I'll be watching from my patio in Saint Paul, Minnesota...

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[Gonzz]

Arrgh! All this tension is making me go absolutely NUTS!! PEANUTS that is..

(ducks for cover)