Mars Pathfinder

Mars Pathfinder (MPF), previously named "MESUR" or "Pathfinder", is part of Nasa's Discovery Program of low-cost small space exploration missions. The spacecraft was successfully launched by a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral on December 4, 1996, 1:58 a.m. EST. The lander carried a small Mars rover, called Sojourner (previously Rocky IV, also MFEX rover). On July 4, 1997, Mars Pathfinder successfully softlanded on Mars in a direct approach in a region named Ares Valley, at 19.5 d N, 32.8 d W, and started in-situ research. After landing, the MPF lander was renamed Carl Sagan Memorial Station. Sojourner was released to the Martian surface on July 6, and started investigating the Martian rocks and soil around the landing site. Both spacecraft performed an excellent mission, returning lots of images and data, from meteorology to Sojourner's X-ray spectrometer investigations, until September 27, 1997, when the last data transmission took place. Contact was eventually lost after a last signal received on October 7, 1997, perhaps because of battery failure, partially due to falling temperatures at the landing site. The project was formally concluded after a final communications attempt failed on March 10. 1998.

Our image shows a view over the Ares Valley rocky plain, as seen by the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft after its touchdown; this was one of the first color images taken by the lander. Parts of the spacecraft's airbag, which were used to softland, are visible in the foreground.

Images:

Mars Pathfinder, in landed configuration

MPF model at JPL [caption]

MPF's airbags, used for a soft landing, hopping, and roll-over at the spacecraft's Mars landing

Artist's sketch of MPF's entry into Mars' atmopshere [caption]

Artist's sketch of MPF's descent to the Martian surface [caption]

Artist's view of the landed Mars Pathfinder spacecraft and Sojourner rover [caption]

Model of the MPF rover (earlier study for the actual Sojourner)

MPF launch by Delta rocket; MPF flight trajectory; MPF in cruise configuration (artwork)

Sojourner on Martian surface; Investigating a Big Rock; At the end of Sol 30

Roving Ares Valley..; MPF Sagan Memorial Station on Sol 39; Sojourner on Sol 39

Links

MPF homepage at JPL
Read news from another world on the MPF landing
Sojourner rover (previously Rocky IV, MFEX rover): Sojourner Homepage
While Mars Pathfinder was performing successful studies of the Martian surface, Mars Global Surveyor orbiter was arriving in its orbit at the Red Planet, and began aerobraking manouvers in order to achieve its final orbit.

More Mars Pathfinder links:

Pictures from the Mars Pathfinder Assembly
Pathfinder Launch CNN story
MPF factsheet (JPL)
MPF Facts from the NSSDC
Dead Link Imager for Mars Pathfinder: The Camera Eyes of the Mars Spacecraft (LPL, University of Arizona)
KSC payload page for the Mars Pathfinder
Images of the Mars Pathfinder Landing Site (from orbit; Viking): large [485k gif] and small image [135 k gif]; caption
Mars Watch program to support Mars Pathfinder
dead link :-( Planetfest: Celebrate the Mars Pathfinder Landing; Earth Invades Mars
Mars Pathfinder Image Archive (Spaceviews)
Raw data from the Mars Pathfinder mission (JPL)
Discovery of Martian Dust Devils on MPF images; Univ. of Nevada
Solar System Exploration: Missions: Mars: Mars Pathfinder (Nasa/JPL)

Hartmut Frommert [contact]

Last Modification: May 21, 2013