Phoenix lander spotted from orbit
Posted: Sun, Nov 8, 2009, 8:08 PM ET (0108 GMT)
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander, whose mission ended almost exactly a year ago, has been spotted in images taken in recent months by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft as the landing site emerges from winter. The images, taken in late July and August, show the lander, covered in frost, as the north polar region of the planet emerged from winter darkness. Phoenix completed a five-month mission studying the region in November 2008, and project officials have said they plan to try contacting the spacecraft again in early 2010 as spring returns to the landing site, although establishing communications with the lander after its long hibernation is considered "highly unlikely". MRO itself has been in an extended safe mode for several weeks because of a series of computer resets.
NASA's Mars Phoenix Lander, whose mission ended almost exactly a year ago, has been spotted in images taken in recent months by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft as the landing site emerges from winter. The images, taken in late July and August, show the lander, covered in frost, as the north polar region of the planet emerged from winter darkness. Phoenix completed a five-month mission studying the region in November 2008, and project officials have said they plan to try contacting the spacecraft again in early 2010 as spring returns to the landing site, although establishing communications with the lander after its long hibernation is considered "highly unlikely". MRO itself has been in an extended safe mode for several weeks because of a series of computer resets.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
Starship explodes during preparations for static-fire test
Posted: Sun, Jun 22 6:52 AM ET (1052 GMT) |
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, July 1
Move over Starlink, here comes Kuiper
Gulf News — 4:58 am ET (0858 GMT) USSF Seeks Industry Ideas For Space-Based Interceptors
Aviation Week — 4:57 am ET (0857 GMT) Don’t forget about Iran’s space program
POLITICO — 4:54 am ET (0854 GMT) EU Space Act is ‘orbital equivalent of GDPR’, says lawyer
Luxembourg Times — 4:53 am ET (0853 GMT) Poland’s second ever astronaut is safe in space
Euro Weekly News — 4:49 am ET (0849 GMT) |
