Failed NASA mission to study Mars via a robotic space probe (1992–93)
Mars Observer
Artist rendering of Mars Observer in orbit around Mars
Mission type
Mars orbiter
Operator
NASA / JPL
COSPAR ID
1992-063A
SATCAT no.
22136
Website
archived
Mission duration
331 days Mission failure
Spacecraft properties
Bus
Mars Observer bus (AS-4000-TIROS/DMSP hybrid)
Manufacturer
General Electric Astro Space
Launch mass
1,018 kilograms (2,244 lb)
Power
1,147 watts
Start of mission
Launch date
September 25, 1992, 17:05:01 (1992-09-25UTC17:05:01Z) UTC
Rocket
Commercial Titan III/TOS
Launch site
Cape Canaveral LC-40
End of mission
Last contact
August 21, 1993, 01:00 (1993-08-21UTC02Z) UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference system
Areocentric
Semi-major axis
3,766.159 kilometers (2,340.183 mi)
Eccentricity
0.004049
Inclination
92.869 degrees
Epoch
Planned December 6, 1993
Flyby of Mars (failed insertion)
Closest approach
August 24, 1993
The Mars Observer spacecraft, also known as the Mars Geoscience/Climatology Orbiter, was a robotic space probe launched by NASA on September 25, 1992, to study the Martian surface, atmosphere, climate and magnetic field. On August 21, 1993, during the interplanetary cruise phase, communication with the spacecraft was lost, three days prior to the probe's orbital insertion. Attempts to re-establish communications with the spacecraft were unsuccessful.
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