NASA has finally given up on trying to resurrect the Phoenix Mars Lander. As of early last week NASA stopped sending signals to the rover who is fighting the intense winter temperatures on Mars. It was hoped that a variation in the weather would allow NASA to establish a connection with the ill fated rover but there was no success.
NASA hopes that when spring rolls around and the tilt of Mars changes that the sunlight will be able restart the rover"s computers. That is only if the rover is able to survive the winter.
The little rover that could has already lived a remarkable life. It was originally thought that the rover would only last three months, some five months later it"s finally time for Phoenix to fight the Martian winter temperatures of -199F. Seasons last longer on Mars than they do here on Earth and spring time on Mars will not come until October 27 of 2009.
Regardless if the rover is at its EOL or not it has out lived its expectations and has provided better insight to our universe. This post is for you Phoenix Mars Lander, we will see you in the spring (hopefully)!