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Mars Probe Probably Lost Forever

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the alas-poor-MGS dept.

David Shiga writes, "NASA's silent Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) spacecraft is likely lost forever. The space agency attempted to take a picture of the 10-year-old spacecraft using the newer Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, but did not detect it, either because its orbit has shifted since last contact, or because it isn't reflecting enough sunlight to be visible. NASA has now ordered its Opportunity rover to listen from the planet's surface for MGS's radio beacon. If that fails, the agency may call on the European Space Agency's Mars Express spacecraft to join the search. But MGS may already have run out of power and NASA officials are not optimistic about recovering it."

7 of 167 comments (clear)

  1. Missing? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did they check Mars? I would bet that it is probably there.

  2. May I be the first to say.... by mhore · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...it was obviously captured by aliens.

    --

    Mmmm......sacrelicious.

    1. Re:May I be the first to say.... by Ridcully · · Score: 5, Funny

      "I claim this probe in the name of Mars! Isn't that delightful?" - Marvin

      Funny that. Aliens taking our probes, rather than the other way 'round.

    2. Re:May I be the first to say.... by Dunbal · · Score: 5, Funny

      Please, take our leader!

            Surely they wouldn't be THAT stupid, would they?

      --
      Seven puppies were harmed during the making of this post.
  3. This just in... by ectotherm · · Score: 5, Funny

    A pink rabbit beating a large bass drum was just spotted in the vicinity of Mars. Communications with the Mars Probe are expected to resume momentarily... ;)

    --
    "Nature bats last..."
  4. Any other options? by Bob54321 · · Score: 5, Funny

    "either because its orbit has shifted since last contact, or because it isn't reflecting enough sunlight to be visible"

    So either it wasn't there or it was there but they didn't see it. I think that has to pretty safe to say they have limited the problem down considerably.

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    :(){ :|:& };:
  5. Not a bad run by Schemat1c · · Score: 5, Funny

    Continual probing of a heavenly body for almost 10 years? Beats my record by a long shot.

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    "Nobody knows the age of the human race, but everybody agrees that it is old enough to know better." - Unknown