ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Phoenix Lander

So imagine you are playing in your backyard and you find a secret box hidden underground. You are very curious to know what's inside the box, right? The Phoenix Lander is just like that box, but on Mars!

It is a very cool machine that was sent to Mars by NASA to explore and learn more about the red planet. It has a big arm that can scoop up dirt and ice from the ground, and it also has tools to test the soil and the temperature.

The Phoenix Lander looks like a robot and has cameras and sensors to see and sense things on Mars. It helps scientists to understand if Mars ever had water or if there are any signs of life on the planet.

Just like when you open the secret box and find out what's inside, the Phoenix Lander is helping scientists discover more about Mars!