Phoenix Lander Possibly Damaged, Probably Dead (Sad)
Writing by Evan Ackerman on Tuesday, 25 of May , 2010 at 12:25 am
The Mars Odyssey orbiter has been listening for any signal from the Phoenix lander, which has been up in the Martian arctic since May of 2008. Phoenix was not expected to endure the Martian winter, although there was a slight chance that the robot would revive itself when it thawed out. However, some pictures from orbit appear to show some damage to at least one of the solar panels on Phoenix, making it fairly certain that the robot is not going to recover:
Two images of the Phoenix Mars lander taken from Martian orbit in 2008 and 2010. The 2008 lander image shows two relatively blue spots on either side corresponding to the spacecraft’s clean circular solar panels. In the 2010 image scientists see a dark shadow that could be the lander body and eastern solar panel, but no shadow from the western solar panel.
Apparent changes in the shadows cast by the lander are consistent with predictions of how Phoenix could be damaged by harsh winter conditions. It was anticipated that the weight of a carbon-dioxide ice buildup could bend or break the lander’s solar panels. Mellon calculated hundreds of pounds of ice probably coated the lander in mid-winter.
Phoenix highlight video, after the jump.
Watching that video gave me chills, especially that incredible descent picture. We’ll miss you, Phoenix.
[ NASA ]
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Comment by quantum_flux
Made Saturday, 9 of October , 2010 at 12:45 am
Dry ice tends to explode too (creating crators and such).
http://www.scribd.com/doc/36642253/Dry-Ice-Bomb-Craters-on-Mars
