NASA TV Live: Phoenix Mars Lander Arrives Today

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NASA TV is broadcasting coverage of the Phoenix lander mission, with astronauts sharing insights about life on the ISS. The lander has successfully landed on Mars, and discussions highlight concerns about hydrazine contamination from its thrusters. The mission is focused on gathering geological and atmospheric data, with hopes of finding evidence of past life. Despite some media focus on the lander's landing accuracy, participants express amazement at its proximity to the target. The Phoenix lander has completed its mission, providing valuable data before succumbing to the harsh Martian winter.
  • #31
a photo of liquid water on Mars
http://img372.imageshack.us/img372/498/wateronmars2gccdw4.jpg
 
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  • #32
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  • #33
Looks like Phoenix finally died!
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 hail the craft but does not to expect to hear from it again.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/7721032.stm
 
  • #34
  • #35
LightbulbSun said:
So they will never be able to get the samples? Or did they get enough data out of it that it can't be rendered a failed mission?

I wouldn't call it a failed mission. The link gokul provides explains that the mission was only scheduled to last for 3 months, but had already run for 5 months.
 
  • #36
LightbulbSun said:
So they will never be able to get the samples? Or did they get enough data out of it that it can't be rendered a failed mission?
The samples were analyzed on Mars. The goal was not to retrieve the samples from Mars and send to earth.
 
  • #37
Astronuc said:
The samples were analyzed on Mars. The goal was not to retrieve the samples from Mars and send to earth.

So they got enough data out of it?
 
  • #38
LightbulbSun said:
So they got enough data out of it?
I'm sure they would have liked to get more.

However - Mars Phoenix Lander Finishes Successful Work on Red Planet - 11.10.08
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/phoenix/news/phoenix-20081110.html

AFAIK - the rovers are still going.

Dust Storm Cuts Energy Supply of NASA Mars Rover Spirit
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/mer/news/mer-20081110.html

and Cassini is still sending us breathtaking views of Saturn and its rings and moons.
http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/main/index.html
 
  • #39

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