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Spacecraft Missions to Mars

Earth passes Mars every 26 months. Mars missions are usually launched a few months before Earth close approach. Details.


Viking Lander 2 on the surface of Mars, 1976.

Legend: Failed to reach Mars Reached Mars Some data returned Successful Planned Enroute

No Launch date Arrival date Name of Craft Mission Type Country Result
1 10 Oct 1960 - Unnamed flyby USSR Did not reach Earth orbit.
2 14 Oct 1960 - Unnamed flyby USSR Did not reach Earth orbit.
3 24 Oct 1962 - Unnamed flybyUSSR Did not leave Earth orbit.
4 1 Nov 1962 - Mars 1 flybyUSSR Radio failed 106 million km out from Earth.
5 4 Nov 1962 - Unnamed flybyUSSR Did not leave Earth orbit.
6 5 Nov 1964 - Mariner 3 flybyUSA Shroud failed to jettison after launch.
7 28 Nov 1964 14 Jul 1965 Mariner 4 flybyUSA Returned 21 images.
8 30 Nov 1964 6 Aug 1965 Zond 2 flybyUSSR Flew by Mars but returned no planetary data due to radio failure.
9 24 Feb 1969 31 Jul 1969 Mariner 6 flybyUSA Returned 75 images.
10 27 Mar 1969 5 Aug 1969 Mariner 7 flybyUSA Returned 126 images.
11 8 May 1971 - Mariner 8 orbiterUSA Failed during launch.
12 10 May 1971 - Kosmos 419 landerUSSR Did not leave Earth orbit.
13 19 May 1971 27 Nov 1971 Mars 2 orbiterUSSR No useful data returned.
14 19 May 1971 27 Nov 1971 Mars 2 landerUSSR Lander destroyed. No useful data returned.
15 28 May 1971 3 Dec 1971 Mars 3 orbiterUSSR Returned some data and a few images.
16 28 May 1971 3 Dec 1971 Mars 3 landerUSSR Returned some data and a few images.
17 30 May 1971 13 Nov 1971 Mariner 9 orbiterUSA Remained in orbit for almost 12 months and returned over 7,000 images.
18 21 Jul 1973 10 Feb 1974 Mars 4 orbiterUSSR Flew past Mars without achieving orbit.
19 25 Jul 1973 12 Feb 1974 Mars 5 orbiterUSSR Lasted a few days
20 5 Aug 1973 12 Mar 1974 Mars 6 orbiterUSSR Returned some data.
21 5 Aug 1973 12 Mar 1974 Mars 6 landerUSSR Returned some data.
22 9 Aug 1973 9 Mar 1974 Mars 7 orbiterUSSR Returned some data.
23 9 Aug 1973 9 Mar 1974 Mars 7 landerUSSR Returned some data.
24 20 Aug 1975 19 Jun 1976 Viking 1 orbiterUSA Took thousands of images of the surface of Mars. It continued to return data until 1980.
25 20 Aug 1975 19 Jun 1976 Viking 1 landerUSA Touched down on 20th Jul 1976. It took thousands of images. It continued to return data until 1982
26 9 Sep 1975 7 Aug 1976 Viking 2 orbiterUSA Took thousands of images of the surface of Mars. It continued to return data until 1986.
27 9 Sep 1975 7 Aug 1976 Viking 2 landerUSA Touched down on 3rd Sep 1976 and took thousands of images. It continued to return data until 1980.
28 7 Jul 1988 - Phobos 1 orbiter and landerUSSR Lost en route to Mars
29 12 Jul 1988 Mar 1989 Phobos 2 orbiter and landerUSSR Returned images of Phobos. Lost near Phobos.
30 25 Sep 1992 21 Aug 1993 Mars Observer orbiter USA Lost as the craft was preparing for orbit insertion.
31 7 Nov 1996 12 Sep 1997 Mars Global Surveyor orbiterUSA Contact lost on 2nd November 2006, due to battery failure on the spacecraft. A successful ten year mission. Returned hundreds of thousands of high resolution images, daily global images and a laser altimeter ditital elevation map of the surface. Observed flows of water on the surface.
32 16 Nov 1996 - Mars 96 orbiter and landersUSSR Launch vehicle failed.
33 4 Dec 1996 4 Jul 1997 Mars Pathfinder lander and roverUSA Thousands of images returned by lander and rover. Rover analysed rocks and soil. Weather and atmosphere data returned. Last transmission 27 Sep 1997.
34 4 Jul 1998 en route Nozomi (Planet-B) orbiterJapan Propulsion problem. Alternative route using gravity assist devised. Arrived at Mars Dec 2003. Spacecraft deteoriation prevented orbit insertion.
35 11 Dec 1998 23 Sep 1999 Mars Climate Orbiter orbiterUSA Impacted on Mars due to navigation error.
36 3 Jan 1999 3 Dec 1999 Mars Polar Lander lander and descent probesUSA Lost during descent sequence.
37 7 April 2001 24 Oct 2001 Mars Odyssey OrbiterUSA Mapped undersurface ice deposits. Has characterised the planet's radiation enviroment. Has studied the climate and geology of Mars. Has returned thousands of images and data points. Still returning data (July 2007).
38 2 June 2003 24 Dec 2003 Mars Express OrbiterEurope Has returned thousands of high resolution images and data points. Has detected methane concentrations in the atmosphere. Has discovered recent glacial activity. Has deployed a ground penetrating radar to map undersurface ice deposits. Still returning data (July 2007).
39 2 June 2003 24 Dec 2003 Beagle II LanderUK Carried to Mars by Mars Express. Contact lost after separation.
40 10 June 2003 3 Jan 2004 MER Spirit RoverUS Landed in Gusev Crater. Has travelled to the sumit and over Husband Hill. Has observed volcanic rocks and rocks and deposits mineralised in water. Has captured movies of dust devils moving over the floor of Gusev Crater. One of its six driving wheels has seized. Still returning data (July 2007).
41 7 July 2003 24 Jan 2004 MER Opportunity RoverUS Landed in a small impact crater on haematite rich Meridium Planum. Found evidence of the existence of long term liquid water bodies on the surface. Descended into Endurance Crater. Travelled to Victoria Crater and explored along its northern rim. Is about to descend into Victoria Crater. Still returning data (July 2007).
42 12 August 2005 10 March 2006 Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter OrbiterUS Achieved a circular mapping orbit in September 2006. High resolution camera is returning unprecedented detail of the surface, including images of landers and rovers. Surface penetrating radar successfully deployed. Still returning data (July 2007).
43 August 2007 - Phoenix Mars Mission LanderUS Due for launch in August 2007. Equipped with a digging arm, cameras, mircroscope, mineral and biological activity analysers and a meterological station. Will land on the edge of the north pole ice cap. It is designed to obtain answers to three questions: (1) can the Martian arctic support life, (2) what is the history of water at the landing site, and (3) how is the Martian climate affected by polar dynamics?
Sources:
  1. Mars Global Explorer Home Page
  2. Mars Pathfinder Home Page
  3. Nozomi News
  4. Mars Odyssey Home Page
  5. Mars Express Home Page
  6. Mars Exploration Rovers Home Page
  7. Mars Reconnaisance Orbiter Home Page
  8. Phoenix Mars Mission Home Page

  9. NASA, Mars Polar Lander/Deep Space 2 Press Kit, December 1999. PDF Copy
  10. Audoze, Jean and Iraël, Guy, (editors), The Cambridge Atlas of Astronomy, CUP, Cambridge, 1994.
  11. Yenne, Bill, The Encylopaedia of US Spacecraft, Hamlyn, Middlesex, 1985.
  12. SEDS, Mars Mission Launch Sequence

Prepared by Michael Gallagher
February 2000, October 2002, July 2003, February 2005, July 2007