The success of Phoenix and its landing on the red planet on May 25 turns a new page in Mars exploration.

Next steps will involve readying the lander for a suite of scientific investigations to be carried out over the months to come.

Yesterday, as the Mars lander eased itself on down, planting its trio of legs firmly on the planet, cheers broke out at Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company  near Denver, Colorado. They designed, built and are now key to the safe and sustained operation of the spacecraft.

"It's a great day," explained Joanne Maguire, Executive Vice President, Space Systems for Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company. "We are charting uncharted territory," she told an audience gathered at the aerospace company on landing day.

Colorado Governor, Bill Ritter, also was on hand to observe the landing, labeling it a world-class event. He noted all "the competence in one room" at the company's Mission Support Area for Phoenix, spotlighting the fact that Colorado has the 2nd highest concentration of aerospace workers in the United States.

Meanwhile, Phoenix scientists are ready to start their scientific tasks on the red planet. Within the next day or so, the first tests of the lander's long robotic arm are slated.  But will the Mars craft find what it has been sent to dig for - ice, frozen water?

Does the Phoenix Mars lander now sit and operate on a site that has been a favorable environment for microbial life?

Making use of its robotic arm, Phoenix will, indeed, be breaking new ground in Mars exploration.

-- Leonard David