90 days?

I read Phoenix was to run 90 days, PERIOD. Me thinks not. How long can it go?

The 90 days was the mission success template timeframe. The mission will terminate with a whimper rather than a bang as the solar panel output drops until the system can no longer function. No-one knows exactly when but October early November, no longer.

Aren't we supposed to see the lander become encased in frozen carbon dioxide as winter arrives? I've been hoping for at least a few interesting pictures from the mission.

Marswatcher

The short answer is no, unless it is operating 12 mounths from now. It is mid summer now at the Phoenix site with 3 mo’s till fall. I suspect late fall or early winter 6-8 mo’s before CO2 snow. We should see how much H2O snow can fall in the next 90 days. I suspect with the wind the panels will operate another 90 days hopefully.

Fred