NASA: No word from Phoenix Mars lander; scientists say it may not have survived winter

NASA: No word from Phoenix Mars lander

PASADENA, Calif. — NASA says there’s no word from the Phoenix lander that is presumed to be frozen near the Martian north pole.

The space agency said Thursday the Mars Odyssey spacecraft passed over the Phoenix landing site 30 times during the last three days and did not hear anything.

Scientists have said it is highly unlikely that Phoenix survived the Martian winter. It landed on Mars in May 2008 and operated for five months.

NASA will listen for Phoenix again next month.