Asa Dotzler: Firefox and more

4:56 Phoenix has landed. Phoenix has landed.

4:55 ALIVE!
4:55 touchdown!
4:54 lander separation detected!
4:53: 1800m
4:52 60m/second
4:52 Radar for altitude detection on confirmed.
4:51 Heat shield trigger detected, Parachute detected, velocity as expected 90m/sec.
4:50 Switch to 32Kbit/second detected.
4:48 Peak heating and the signal via Odyssey is still coming.

As Phoenix enters the atmosphere, it's getting quite hot and generating plasma on the heat shield. During this time, we may have UHF blackouts.

4:46 Atmospheric entry now.
4:45 Phoenix 8Kb/s data transmitted and Turn to Entry completed.
4:43 Phoenix 4 minutes into turn to entry and both Odyssey and MRO are relaying EDL data to Earth.

Turn to entry is the maneuver where MPL changes attitude to enter the Martian atmosphere. Everything nominal so far!!

4:40 Turn to entry in process.
4:40 Confirmed cruise stage separation and acquisition of UHF signal.
4:40 Odyssey data recording has started.
4:36 Odyssey data flow (transmitting EDL data to Earth) expected in 2 mintues.
4:35 MRO software sequence for recording EDL data loading confirmed.
4:35 Com checks happening now.

As "cruise stage" wraps up, there's a change in com systems for the beginning of the "entry, descent and landing" phase.

4:30 All personnel at stations. Cruise stage finishes in 8 minutes.
4:29 Confirmation that the space craft has performed final inertial measurement unit calibration and the star tracker is powered down (expected.)
4:28 Waiting for confirmation that the star tracker calibration has taken place.
4:19 Pressurization confirmed (this is really good.)
4:18 The propulsion system is being pressurized.
4:12 Madrid (MDSCC,) part of the Deep Space Network, tracking the MPL.
4:10 Reminder of good final window for wireless radio battery change for the EDL team.
4:09 Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is go for com support.
4:08 Additional positive tests of MPL's radio.
4:07 Mars Odyssey Orbiter is go for communications support.
4:02 confirmation of heater activation.
4:00 turn to entry thruster pre-ignition heaters being activated.