William Atkins
Saturday, 01 November 2008 19:39
Science -
Space
Page 2 of 3
Barry Goldstein, the project manager for the Phoenix mission, stated on Friday, October 31, 2008,
“We knew this was coming.” [Mercury News: “
Phoenix spacecraft on Mars is unlikely to rise”]
Goldstein was referring to the eventual death of Phoenix and the end of the mission on Mars.
Earlier in the week, on Thursday, Phoenix did return out of safe mode. It sent a signal to the Mars Odyssey spacecraft, which is orbiting around the planet, but then fell back to safe mode.
Since that time, Phoenix has not responded to
“wake up” calls from NASA ground controllers back on Earth.
NASA will continue to monitor Phoenix throughout the weekend for signs of life in the spacecraft.
According to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory
status report (October 30, 2008), Dr. Goldstein stated
"We will be coordinating with the orbiter teams to hail Phoenix as often as feasible to catch the time when it can respond."
He adds,
"If we can reestablish communication, we can begin to get the spacecraft back in condition to resume science. In the best case, if weather cooperates, that would take the better part of a week."
Page three discusses the Mars Scout Program and the history of NASA landings on Mars.
