Mars Global Surveyor disabled by Martians, possibly seen tumbling

Lost Mars Probe: Possible Sighting

Posted on December 20, 2006 @ 10: 38:45 EST


The lost-in-space Mars Global Surveyor remains in “unknown status”. Last contact with the red planet orbiter was early November.

But there’s new news in the high-tech, hide-and-seek use of the European Space Agency’s Mars Express — also orbiting the planet — to sight MGS.

Michel Denis, Head of Mars Express Mission Operations, reported to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory that their orbiter may have spotted the errant MGS. An image of MGS was taken on December 9 and contains “possible evidence” for a MGS sighting - but it’s still debatable.

Mars Express data “suggests that the spacecraft [MGS] might be tumbling,” advised Tom Thorpe, MGS Project Manager at JPL.

Another Mars Express photo session to try and spot MGS is slated for December 21.

[link to www.livescience.com]