• marsphoenix-top.jpg#nasa

    Phoenix to NASA: "Houston, We Have a Prob*static*"

    Just two days after touchdown, NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is having problems with their UHF radio, which was used more than a hundred times before but now is refusing to work. Without it, you can't give orders to the spacecraft, but don't fret: fortunately they can use the orbiter Odyssey to relay signals, as well as activating the secondary radio unit available on board. NASA said the problem was caused by a "transient event." What does that mean? They don't know for sure, and that means we can pick our own. Update: my bad, I misread. The problem is with the MRO UHF radio, not with Phoenix, which is working just fine. More »
    05/28/08
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