Likely Causes of Mars Spacecraft Loss

The Mars Global Surveyor lasted four times longer than it was originally expected too, but on Nov. 2nd 2006 MGS made its last communication with Earth. The causes of the Global Surveyor's loss, NASA says was a "series of events linked to a computer error made five months before" the error basically exposed one of the orbiters batteries to direct sunlight which in turn eventually overheated the battery, causing it to shut down.