Mars Phoenix lander is officially dead

[UM-Bot]

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/images/newsitems/marsphoenix2.jpg

NASA's Phoenix Mars lander is now officially out of action after it failed to survive the martian winter. Images taken from orbit have revealed that part of the solar panels had broken off, most likely due to ice building up during the winter months. All attempts to communicate with the lander have failed.

"The lights have officially gone out for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander. After several unsuccessful attempts to reestablish communication, a picture of the lander taken from orbit shows at least part of the craft's solar panels has broken off. "

View: Full Article | Source: National Geographic

[:PsYKoTiC:BeHAvIoR:]

That's unfortunate. R.I.P. May your silent presence be a relic of knowledge for the future generations.

[toastedmarshmellow]

ehhh i dont buy it

[lookingfortruth]

it's not like we spend 17 billion a year on NASA or anything

[Suzy Butterfly]

Must be a week for goodbyes....

http://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/index.php?app=blog&module=display&section=blog&blogid=2291&

[Gwynbleidd]

it's not like we spend 17 billion a year on NASA or anything

Good grief thats a lot!

[27vet]

R.I.P.

[indsloan]

when i have to teach people that help designe it how to understand & operate a metal detector something is wrong!!!! he knows how to do the math but he does know how to think & he is on crank. works at JPL ca.

[pallidin]

Huh. Well, sounds like it served it's purpose.

[Father Of Evolution]

I've been watching this robot on natgeo. It has done well, goodbye robot :cry:

[Czero 101]

it's not like we spend 17 billion a year on NASA or anything

Good grief thats a lot!

Not when you consider that the entire NASA budget of $17B (17.3 in 2008, 17.78 in 2009) is roughly 0.6% of the US Federal budget. The 18.7 earmarked for 2010 comes up to a whopping 0.52% of the Federal budget.

IMHO, NASA is horribly underfunded.

Cz