An interesting couple of days
The next couple days are interesting for space junkies. First, the Stardust probe will attempt to collect samples from the tail of Comet Wild 2 tomorrow. The samples are supposed to be returned in 2006.
Then, Spirit, the first of two US Mars spacecraft will attempt to land Saturday. This is by no means a done deal. There are many, many things that can go wrong as recent history has shown. Should that one fail, another one (Opportunity) will arrive at Mars on January 24th. I hope at least one of them is successful.