Phoenix (spacecraft) other institutions. The $325 million NASA award is more than six times larger than any other single research grant in University of Arizona history. Peter H. Smith of the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, as Principal Investigator, along with 24 Co-Investigators, were selected to lead the mission. The mission was named after the Phoenix, a mythological bird that is repeatedly reborn from its own ashes. The "Phoenix" spacecraft contains several previously built components. The lander used for the 2007–08 mission is the modified Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander (canceled in 2000), along with several of the instruments from both
Bi Fang bird Bi Fang bird The Bi Fang (畢方) is a mythological bird, encountered in Chinese mythology. The Bi Fang is thought to have one leg. The importance of the Bi Fang bird is that it is one of the creatures of Chinese mythology. However, sources vary in terms of its description. Han Fei dates back to the third century BCE.The Bi Fang bird is described by Han Fei, in his work "Hanfeizi". According to the "Hanfeizi" the Bi Fang is an auspicious bird which was a companion to Huangdi (the "Yellow Emperor") (Strassberg 2002, 110). The "Shanhaijing" also known as the