The launch was successful and the first independent signals were already received from it
And the ground controllers of NASA's deep space network received the transmissions from it and began to assess its condition. The solar panels that will be used to propel the spacecraft during the cruise phase will deploy and the Phoenix will be directed so that it receives the best energy from the sun and also so that it receives the strongest transmission from Earth.
The spacecraft will use the solar panels to generate electricity during the nine-month flight to Mars. Another pair of solar panels is attached to a lander that will separate from the mother spacecraft upon arrival at Mars.
The Phoenix spacecraft is designed to dig into the soil and ice on Mars and use the scientific instruments on board to analyze the soil samples it obtains.
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For those interested in more information, it is recommended to read Tal Inbar's comprehensive article about the Phoenix, which also includes an interview we recently conducted with NASA about the project:
http://www.tfot.info/articles/55/The-Rise-of-the-Phoenix.html