This image, released on Memorial Day, May 26, 2008, shows the American
flag and a mini-DVD on the Phoenix's deck, which is about 3 ft. above the
Martian surface. The mini-DVD from the Planetary Society contains a
message to future Martian explorers, science fiction stories and art
inspired by the Red Planet, and the names of more than a quarter million
earthlings.
The Phoenix Mission is led by the University of Arizona, Tucson, on behalf
of NASA. Project management of the mission is by NASA's Jet Propulsion
Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif. Spacecraft development is by Lockheed Martin
Space Systems, Denver.