Mars Lander Succumbs to Winter, page 1

posted on Nov, 11 2008 @ 10:06 AM

link

The following is my opinion as a member participating in this discussion.

Winter is coming to the Red planet, and it is proving to be too much for the Phoenix.

Mission managers said Monday that they had not heard from the NASA spacecraft for a week and that they thought it had probably fallen quiet for good.

“At this time, we’re pretty convinced that the vehicle is no longer available for us to use,” said Barry Goldstein, the project manager. “We’re actually ceasing operations, declaring an end to mission operations at this point.”

Source

It's sad to see this day come along, though we all knew it would happen. While I don't propose a day of mourning, for those of us who waited for the pictures and the info to trickle through NASA, it will be bittersweet to think of all we have seen, and will see no more.

*For the full story go to Space and Cosmos @ N Y Times

As an ATS Staff Member, I will not moderate in threads such as this where I have participated as a member.

[edit on 11-11-2008 by NGC2736]

internos

posted on Nov, 11 2008 @ 12:39 PM

link

reply to post by NGC2736

In my opinion, all the people directly involved in the project see Phoenix like some "living creature"

It has to be very hard to cope with the idea to don't hear from it anymore. But in the other hand, the mission was a success: people were expecting amazing images, but imageering was at the very bottom in the list of Phoenix mission's priorities. This has been one of the missions i've enjoyed more, and its results can be considered more than satisfactory

NGC2736

posted on Nov, 11 2008 @ 07:52 PM

link

reply to post by internos

True, the imaging was always a lower priority, but still a nice bonus. I too have enjoyed all the data, and images, sent back to us by this intrepid little explorer.

Perhaps with what has been learned from it, the next mission, if unmanned, will be designed to better handle the elements on Mars. (A blower to keep the dust off the solar panels?)

It's been a great run while it lasted, and perhaps come Martian spring, luck will allow it to return to duty. ????

seagull

posted on Nov, 12 2008 @ 05:28 AM

link

reply to post by NGC2736

We can always hope so, anyway.

But it lasted so much longer than they expected, as to be almost uncanny. I guess NASA can still build it better, huh?