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Phoenix Mars Lander Declared Dead

Posted by kdawson on from the so-long-and-thanks-for-all-the-pix dept.

SpuriousLogic sends in a sad note from the BBC: "NASA says its Phoenix lander on the surface of Mars has gone silent and is almost certainly dead. Engineers have not heard from the craft since Sunday 2 November when it made a brief communication with Earth. Phoenix, which landed on the planet's northern plains in May, had been struggling in the increasing cold and dark of an advancing winter. The US space agency says it will continue to try to contact the craft but does not expect to hear from it."

4 of 154 comments (clear)

  1. RIP by negRo_slim · · Score: 3, Insightful

    The mission was scheduled to last just three months on the surface, but continued to work for more than five months.

    I'll drink to that!

    --
    On the Oregon Cost born and raised, On the beach is where I spent most of my days
  2. Two thumbs up given the circumstances. by zazenation · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Given that the planet Earth is batting only .385 on Mars missions, the extra 2 months of data makes up for it to some extent.

    Since Mars does have a thin atmosphere, a probe is likely to be under far greater danger of being hit by random flying debris than on some airless hunk of rock like the Moon where only micrometeorites pose that kind of hazard.

    Bye Phoenix, you gutted it out well!

    1. Re:Two thumbs up given the circumstances. by camperdave · · Score: 2, Insightful

      Since Mars does have a thin atmosphere, a probe is likely to be under far greater danger of being hit by random flying debris than on some airless hunk of rock like the Moon where only micrometeorites pose that kind of hazard.

      Huh? I think you have that backwards. Mars has a thin atmosphere, which means that micrometeoriods would likely be burned up before hitting the surface. On the whole a probe would have a far greater chance of being hit by random flying debris on some airless rock than on Mars.

      --
      When our name is on the back of your car, we're behind you all the way!
  3. Re:next spring? by DerekLyons · · Score: 2, Insightful

    Yes, the damage done by freezing is irreversible. There is a very, very, slender and against all odds hope however that the damage will be insufficient to actually completely kill the lander.