Phoenix is already benefiting local education

The Phoenix spacecraft will pass the midpoint of its 423-million-mile journey Tuesday and is in great shape.In the meantime, the Empire team is studying the growth of a variety plants in various soils blended to approximate what the Martian surface is expected to be like, said Kuhn, 16, a junior. The actual composition and properties of Martian soil, determined after the Lander's scheduled arrival on Mars on May 25, will be compared to the soils tested in Tucson to find the one most similar. Researchers will be able to determine which, if any, plants might be grown on the planet to sustain manned missions, Kuhn said.