Just reading it: Vague interest that the internal machinery of the Mars Phoenix Lander succumbed to the elements. Disappointment that we won't be getting more cool pictures from Mars. Learned that there's a class of chemical called "perchlorates."Reading it after a friend put it in context of Wall-E: Total heartbreak, and a strong belief that President-Elect Barack Obama should spend billions rescuing the unimaginably lonely Phoenix from a an eternity of howling winters and utter isolation.Read it yourself.Update: Via Katherine in comments, the Lander had its own Twitter feed, which will make you want to cry. Some selections:I'll never sound woeful to be here. It's far better here than sitting in storage (like I did after my 1st mission was canceled). 11:24 AM Oct 10thThe dust here isn't decreasing power as much as the shorter days and colder temps, @Moncky. I'm making less power and using more. 12:35 AM Oct 15th from webI should stay well-preserved in this cold. I'll be humankind's monument here for centuries, eons, until future explorers come for me ;-) 3:57 AM Oct 30th from web It's a bit stormy today. Not sure if these are dust or ice clouds, but the sky is more obscured & less sunlight is hitting my solar arrays. 1:11 PM Oct 28th from web Alex, it's very unlikely I'll wake up next spring (see: http://is.gd/6tkx) but if I do I'll call home. Good luck w/ your project 1:30 PM Nov 9th from web [From Phoenix mission ops: Phoenix is no longer communicating with Earth. We'll continue to listen, but it's likely its mission has ended.] about 18 hours agoGod speed
