Screw Mr. Bill and David's comments.

If Phonenix could read, it would have been on top of the world…er Mars

http://www.universetoday.com/2008/05/24/dear-phoenix-all-our-hopes

Unfortunately I had a job interview scheduled (11am NZST) for an hour before touch down which was close to noon in New Zealand, or I would have been glued to my computer screen. Fortunately the interview went well, and if I get it, then I will be able to use Linux at work & at home!

I was attending a stage 1 Physics lecture about solonoids at Auckland University, when Man first landed on the Moon.

All the very best to the huge team who worked to get the lander safely to Mars, those who prepared the experiments – and not least, those who will look after it from Earth.

Warm regards,

Gavin

P.S. We all _KNOW_ the landing was faked! Right Phil?

Yippeee!!!

Hopefully Newton's gravity calculations won't be too far off the mark as I suspect you might fare better using the 'gravity' calculations in Expansion Theory, but who knows?

Go my little, fuzzbutt, computer, inter solar exploration thing – GO!

Just a couple of more things.

First, remember who your daddy is. NASA is your daddy. NASA can turn you off any time it wants. If daddy doesn't get what it wants, you might wind up on the old chopping block.

Second, remember who your momma is. Your momma is the legislative and executive branch of the United States government. Don't mess with momma. You will be wise to remember that your momma can cut you off anytime it wants. Your momma runs any way the wind blows. So if Mars doesn't look fashionable to your momma, you just remember you may not be around to do your bit for science.

Finally, dear Phoenix, remember the people that created you. In spite of some well meaning and well trained scientists and engineers, they still are part of a society with an attention span about as long as a song on I-Tunes. So you just remember because not too many people may remember past, say, tomorrow.

Good luck Phoenix. I love you dearly.

I calculate the chances of success at 1 in 2. Meaning it'll work or it won't. Too many variables. Long live and prosper, Phoenix.