[Image of Mars Pathfinder in Mars atmosphere] [Image of Mars Pathfinder Lander on Surface of Mars]

Mars Pathfinder Project Information

Launch Date: 04 December 1996 UT 06:58
Arrival Date: 04 July 1997
Launch Vehicle: Delta II
Mass: 264 kg (lander), 10.5 kg (rover)
Power System: Solar panels

Images from Mars Pathfinder should first be available about 9:30 PM EDT on Friday, July 4. They will be posted on the Mars Pathfinder mirror sites and will also be posted here at http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/marspath_images.html

A large dust storm in Valles Marineris has been imaged by the Hubble Space Telescope on June 27. The storm is not expected to have any serious effect on the Mars Pathfinder landing site.

Flight Status Report

There will be almost continuous coverage of Mars Pathfinder on NASA Select in the days leading up to the landing. Coverage after landing on July 4 will begin at 3:20 PM EDT. A complete schedule for NASA Select TV Coverage is available.
* Post-landing timeline - operations and image availability
* Information on the entry and landing strategy
* Information on the landing site

The Mars Pathfinder (formerly known as the Mars Environmental Survey, or MESUR, Pathfinder) will be the second of NASA's low-cost planetary Discovery missions. The mission will consist of a stationary lander and a surface rover. The mission has the primary objective of demonstrating the feasibility of low-cost landings on and exploration of the Martian surface. This objective will be met by tests of communications between the rover and lander, and the lander and Earth, and tests of the imaging devices and sensors.

The scientific objectives include atmospheric entry science, long-range and close-up surface imaging, with the general objective being to characterize the Martian environment for further exploration. The spacecraft is scheduled to enter the Martian atmosphere without going into orbit around the planet and land on Mars with the aid of parachutes, rockets and airbags, taking atmospheric measurements on the way down. Prior to landing, the spacecraft will be enclosed by three triangular solar panels (petals), which will unfold onto the ground after touchdown. (See image above.)

[Image of Mars rover]
The rover "Sojourner" is a six-wheeled vehicle which will be controlled by an Earth-based operator, who will use images obtained by both the rover and lander systems. Note that the time delay will be about 10 minutes, requiring some autonomous control by the rover. The primary objectives are scheduled for the first seven sols (1 sol = 1 martian day = ~24.7 hours), all within about 10 meters of the lander. The extended mission will include longer trips away from the lander over about 30 sols.

* Detailed Mars Pathfind