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Mars Lander Falls Silent

Phoenix lacks the solar power to continue its mission

By Nick McMaster,  Newser Staff

Posted Nov 10, 2008 5:11 PM CST
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(Newser) – The Martian autumn has cut power to NASA’s Phoenix Mars Lander, ending its mission of scientific discovery, NASA reports. As anticipated, shorter days and increasingly overcast skies are preventing sufficient solar energy from reaching the lander’s power cells. It has already collected data for 2 months longer than its originally planned 90-day mission, yielding information crucial to understanding Mars’ environment.

"We were unsuccessful in keeping the batteries from browning out," the project manager tells Space.com of the team's efforts to conserve energy.

This image provided by NASA shows the full-circle panoramic view of the Phoenix Mars Lander taken during the first several weeks after NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander arrived on an arctic plain on Mars in late May.
This image provided by NASA shows the full-circle panoramic view of the Phoenix Mars Lander taken during the first several weeks after NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander arrived on an arctic plain on Mars in...   (AP Photo/NASA)
This artist's rendering provided by NASA shows the lander dubbed Phoenix Mars.
This artist's rendering provided by NASA shows the lander dubbed Phoenix Mars.   (AP Photo/NASA)
This image provided by NASA shows an image taken by the Surface Stereo Imager on Sol 49, or the 49th Martian day of the mission Monday July 14, 2008, shows the silver colored rasp protruding from NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander's Robotic Arm scoop. The scoop is inverted and the rasp...
This image provided by NASA shows an image taken by the Surface Stereo Imager on Sol 49, or the 49th Martian day of the mission Monday July 14, 2008, shows the silver colored rasp protruding from NASA's...   (AP Photo/NASA)
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Lander becomes space trash on Martian surface
Wired

Scientisis will continue monitoring just in case
Reuters

The change of seasons meant the end for the lander
Discover

 
environment • NASA • Mars • science • space • Phoenix Mars Lander • solar panel • solar panels • soil sample

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