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main page newsspace newsattempts to rescue the nasa mars probe has failed.

Attempts to rescue the NASA Mars probe has failed.. / January 22, 2010 /

/ January 22, 2010 /


Attempts by NASA specialists to register the signals from the probe «Phoenix» and to rescue stuck in the sand rover «Spirit» had failed. Details of both operations leads portal Universe Today.

Probe Phoenix landed near the north pole of Mars in late May 2008. Within five months he studied the Red Planet’s atmosphere and investigated the properties of Martian soil. When autumn has arrived on Mars, and the probe is no longer enough energy for work, his mission was terminated. Scientists do not rule out that the Phoenix could not survive the winter (now at the north pole of Mars spring), although they regard this possibility as unlikely. The program of the Phoenix team laid periodically try to contact any of the Mars orbiter.

The first stage of searching for signals from the «Phoenix» was launched on 18 November. The orbiter Mars Odyssey carried out 11 sorties over the place of landing of the probe. Repeated attempts to detect the signal will be made in January, February and March, when the solar panels «Phoenix» will get more energy.

Mars rover «Spirit» is stuck in the ground in April 2009. Under the head «Spirits» is a large stone, and this fact complicates the task of the liberation of the rover. Scientists have tried several times to move the rover sends the appropriate commands (tactic was first tested on Earth using the models of the rover in a full-size). Tangible successes professionals could be reached, moreover, the wheels of «Spirits» is bogged down even deeper. In the place where the rover got stuck, autumn comes, so the chances of rescue machine, powered by a solar cell is gradually reduced.

Rovers-twin, Spirit «and» Opportunity "were launched to Mars in 2004. It was planned that their mission will last 90 days, but both the device works so far.

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