NASA's Phoenix Lander

[PPI Brian]

Here's a video you all might find interesting:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/videos/phoenix/phx20080327/

Following a successful landing on May 25, 2008, the Phoenix performed flawlessly for five months -- two months longer than anticipated. It is now winter in the northern hemisphere of Mars, and the lander isn't able to gather enough solar energy to keep it's communications systems operational. NASA has tried to hail the intrepid lander for over a month to no avail. Here's a link to the website:

http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/index.html

[Don]

Cool video we should get our vids to look like that! If NASA can get a signal to Mars how come I can't get cell service on the side of a mountain?

[PPI Tracy]

Cool video we should get our vids to look like that! If NASA can get a signal to Mars how come I can't get cell service on the side of a mountain?

LOL   

No truer words have been spoken!!

[PPI Brian]

LOL!    I'll bet we can make videos like that!

Here's a tribute to Phoenix from JPL: http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/video/index.cfm?id=788

(note: If you have a high speed connection, try the HD version. The regular version doesn't seem to play 100% of the time)

Farewell, Phoenix. And thank you!  (

[johnny]

breathtaking videos. Thank you sir.  Especially liked the shot "Land of the Midnight Sun"

[Brigham]

Can they not just wait until late spring and try checking in again?

[PPI Brian]

The lander has gone into safe mode, but soon it's batteries will be depleted and it will just quit working. It was designed to survive three months on the surface and lasted for five months. A Mars year is about 687 Earth Days, I believe, so by the time spring rolls around the northern hemisphere the lander will be frozen solid.

[Brigham]

So basically they just don't expect it to survive the effects of a martian winter. It would be pretty amazing to see in a year and a half if it just starts phoning home again.

[PPI Brian]

So basically they just don't expect it to survive the effects of a martian winter. It would be pretty amazing to see in a year and a half if it just starts phoning home again.

Yes, they don't expect it to survive the harsh environment in safe mode. As long as there is some battery power, the lander will continue to heat some of it's instruments, but when the power fails, the -220 F night time temperatures will take their toll. Also, the solar arrays will continue to accumulate dust, so by the time spring rolls around and the sun light increases over the arctic, the solar panels will be heavily coated. There is always the outside chance that a dust devil might pass over the lander and clean the solar panels. It happened to both Spirit and Opportunity.