This Crazy Cosmos » Mars Science Laboratory http://www.mikiesoft.net Astronomy & Space Exploration Sun, 25 Apr 2010 05:15:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 Farewell Phoenix http://www.mikiesoft.net/farewell-phoenix/ http://www.mikiesoft.net/farewell-phoenix/#comments Tue, 11 Nov 2008 04:57:17 +0000 Mike http://www.mikiesoft.net/?p=147 NASA Phoenix Mars Lander NASA announced today communications from the Phoenix Mars Lander have ceased.  The expected power drain on the spacecraft amid the onset of Martian winter has finally signaled the end of a very successful mission.  There’s just not enough sunlight to recharge the batteries.

The good news; NASA got more than the anticipated amount of scientific data.  More than 25,000 pictures, soil analysis and detailed weather observations from 152 days on Mars contributed to years of scientific data received by project teams for NASA, JPL and the University of Arizona.

So far scientists have discovered small concentrations of salts, a mildly alkaline soil and calcium carbonate, a marker of effects of liquid water.  The Phoenix Lander also coordinated with the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter to perform simultaneous ground and orbital observations of Martian weather.

The study continues into the history of the Martian environment, as the next Mars mission gets ready for launch; the Mars Science Laboratory.

View the latest pictures from the Phoenix Mars Lander at www.nasa.gov.

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