The Phoenix Lander was supposed to do its mission of analyzing Martian soil for evidence of previously existing water that may have supported life for 90 Martian days, called Sols. The lander’s mission has already been extended for a period of 30 days, for a total of four months. NASA scientists have announced yet another extension of the program, saying that the Phoenix Lander will simply function as much as it can until the cold from the encroaching Martian winter makes it too cold for the Phoenix to operate.

The lander, which has been operating on the surface of Mars, near its north pole since May, has so far enjoyed almost non-stop sunlight due to the accentuated wobble of Mars’ axis; however as summer ends daylight is slowly perishing. The sun now disappears for roughly four hours every day. The lander, which runs on power from solar cells built into it, is already meeting with difficulty in building up enough energy to run its tests

"We are literally trying to make hay as the sun shines," said in a statement to the press Barry Goldstein, Phoenix project manager at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.

The lander has been making good use of its extension though, as it has witnessed something unique. The Phoenix’ weather station shined a laser beam directly upwards, and then examined the reflection; it saw crystals of ice water forming. It’s snowing on Mars. The snow, forming in clouds 2.5 miles up in Mars’ atmosphere, is not falling on the ground though, as it evaporates long before that.

Nevertheless, it is a unique find, one which scientists were excited about. "They were also excited about sharing the information with the public, fully appreciating that snow is something most people have stronger feelings about than effects of liquid water on minerals," said NASA spokesperson Guy Webster. Jim Whiteway, associate professor at York University in Toronto and the lead scientist for the Canadian-supplied Meteorological Station on Phoenix was also excited, stating that "nothing like this view has ever been seen on Mars."

The Phoenix lander has also detected the existence of ice in Martian subsurface soil, but so far no evidence that any liquid water presently exists there; such a find would mean that Mars is much more inclined to support life. A possible explanation for the lack of moisture is found in another find by the lander: Perchlorates are present in the soil, and they could have soaked up the moisture therein. The chemicals are also toxic in high amounts.

The lander, working overtime on its limited supply of energy will continue to operate until the cold destroys it, entombing it in carbon-dioxide ice. Scientists say that the cold will make its electronic components brittle and shatter-prone, and that the lander will “probably not survive that.” Nevertheless, the lander contains a “Lazarus” function through which operators will try to revive it next spring. If it does make it, and the Lazarus works, the Phoenix will continue its work as usual.