Photo: Mars Lander Team Prepares for "Seven Minutes of Terror"

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The Mars Phoenix Lander extends its robot arm to dig for water ice near the red planet's north pole in an artist's conception.

Two weeks before the craft is slated to land, scientists and engineers are gearing up for the critical entry, descent, and landing phase—known as the seven minutes of terror—that could make or beak the $420-million mission.

Image courtesy UA/NASA/JPL

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