Phoenix R.I.P.: NASA says Mars probe is dead

[brooklynite]

Source: MSNBC

The end seems to have finally come for NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander mission at the planet's north pole, scientists said Monday.

"At this time we're pretty convinced that the vehicle is no longer available for us to use," said the Phoenix mission's project manager, Barry Goldstein of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, Calif.

"We knew this would happen eventually," Goldstein added.

Mission controllers lost touch with the lander on Nov. 2. That was "the last time we actually heard from Phoenix," Goldstein said. The spacecraft has been studying the arctic surface of the Red Planet for just over five months, since landing there May 25.

Read more: http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27649619/

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[annabanana]

1. Are the Rovers still roving?

I liked them best.

[guyton]

7. rovers doing ok!

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.html

[annabanana]

10. My name is up on that thing..one of them

also my kids & hubby.

[cliffordu]

2. My probe is dead.

Now I'm REALLY sad.

[quiet.american]

3. Interesting timing on its "death."

:tinfoilhat:

[crikkett]

4. yeah, I thought it was hibernating during the arctic winter.

or whatever.

Good Catch.

[tclambert]

6. Latest reports say it was disabled by an Illudium Pu-36 Explosive Space Modulator

And a garbled message said something about this making someone "angry, very angry indeed."

[BadgerKid]

8. Couldn't it have been instant martians due to the water found? n/t

[Lint Head]

5. I think it was assassinated by Martians!

:dem:

[Javaman]

9. now queue the tinfoil hat brigade...

"yeah yeah, dead, sure. right. NASA knows it's not dead, they just discovered life and are now keeping it secret."