14 DAY TRIAL // The NASA Mars Odyssey orbiter has started listening for weak radio signals that could be emanating from the frozen Phoenix lander, near the planet's North Pole. Thus far, experts say that there has been no sign that the robot has awaken from its slumber over the Martian winter. In fact, scientists say, it's highly unlikely that it ever will. Still, it was determined that it cost nothing to try to use Odyssey as a relay for any kind of signals that Phoenix might be generating.
The lander's last communications with the Earth were in November 2008, at the beginning of the winter season on the Red Planet. At this point, temperatures are going up, and mission managers are hoping that the built-in “Lazarus Mode” feature will be able to accumulate sufficient energy from the craft's solar power to allow for it to come to life again. The craft exceeded its alloted functioning parameters in either case. It was sent to conduct investigations for about three months, and managed to endure for five, despite the harsh conditions it experienced so close to the Martian pole, Space reports.
The NASA orbiter started listening for signs from Phoenix about two days ago, but experts say that no communication was established. They also add that Odyssey is not currently trying to initiate contact with the lander, but simply listening for any signal it may produce. According to Guy Webster, who is a NASA spokesman for the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), in Pasadena, California, there is still time for the solar panels aboard the robot to accumulate sufficient energy to reboot its systems. He, however, underlines again that the actual chances of that happening are fairly slim.
There are two additional scouting campaigns planned for Odyssey, in February and March. If this month's effort does not succeed, experts hope that the Sun will provide enough energy to Phoenix's location to allow for a reboot later on in the Martian spring. Over the next two months, the orbiter will renounce passively listening for signs, and will attempt to contact the lander itself. The rescue operation will not last forever, engineers at JPL say, because Odyssey is currently taking a time-off from performing scientific observations, to dedicate itself to finding the lander's radio signals. Still, if this quest is successful, then the science benefits could be impressive.