Images: Phoenix Lander greeted by Mars spacecraft

NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander successfully touched down in the northern polar region of Mars on Sunday and has sent back its first pictures of the planet's surface. The Phoenix represents NASA's sixth successful landing on Mars and was the first to be photographed.

The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, which is orbiting the Red Planet, captured a picture of the craft as it was parachuting to the surface.

NASA's comment? "I'm floored. I'm absolutely floored," said Phoenix Project Manager Barry Goldstein of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

The Phoenix landed at 4:53 PDT Sunday and sent back its first pictures about two hours later.