R.I.P. Phoenix

NASA has given up on the Phoenix lander. After five months of stalwart service on the northern plains of Mars, Phoenix has apparently died from a shortage of sunlight to provide power. The lander was only designed for a three-month mission, so it has exceeded its original goals and given us lots more information about the Martian surface and the presence of water on the Red Planet.

Meanwhile, Spirit and Opportunity keep chugging along.