NASA declares Mars Phoenix mission over
Posted: Mon, Nov 10, 2008, 8:59 PM ET (0159 GMT)
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander spacecraft has been given up for dead after failing to communicate with controllers for over a week, project officials announced Monday. Phoenix was last heard from on November 2, several days after a dust storm reduced power levels on the spacecraft to dangerously low levels. Officials believe the spacecraft's batteries were discharged, and the lander is not getting enough sunlight as winter approaches at the landing site for the lander to continue operations. Phoenix, which landed on Mars on May 25, was originally planned to last for three months, but the spacecraft operated for five before losing power. Orbiting spacecraft will continue to listen for any signals from the lander should it somehow regain power, but project officials were not optimistic contact with Phoenix would be restored.
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander spacecraft has been given up for dead after failing to communicate with controllers for over a week, project officials announced Monday. Phoenix was last heard from on November 2, several days after a dust storm reduced power levels on the spacecraft to dangerously low levels. Officials believe the spacecraft's batteries were discharged, and the lander is not getting enough sunlight as winter approaches at the landing site for the lander to continue operations. Phoenix, which landed on Mars on May 25, was originally planned to last for three months, but the spacecraft operated for five before losing power. Orbiting spacecraft will continue to listen for any signals from the lander should it somehow regain power, but project officials were not optimistic contact with Phoenix would be restored.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
US and UK militaries conduct coordinated satellite maneuvers
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:30 AM ET (1230 GMT) Blue Origin retires a New Shepard capsule after payload flight
Posted: Sun, Sep 21 8:25 AM ET (1225 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Thursday, October 16
Bad news about Starlink launch in South Africa
MyBroadband — 8:04 am ET (1204 GMT) Are Falling Starlink Satellites Really Poisoning the Stratosphere?
The National Interest — 8:03 am ET (1203 GMT) Army to prioritize counterspace tech in future budget requests
Defensescoop — 8:00 am ET (1200 GMT) Federal workers at Colorado military base work unpaid amid government shutdown 'stalemate'
KUSA-TV Denver — 8:00 am ET (1200 GMT) KBR Secures $98.7 Million Space Force Contract to Advance Digital Engineering Ecosystem
GlobeNewswire — 7:58 am ET (1158 GMT) |
