text:
Mars Polar Lander
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Mars Polar Lander
Artist's depiction of the Mars Polar Lander on Mars
Names
Mars Surveyor '98
Mission type
Lander
Operator
NASA / JPL
COSPAR ID
1999-001A
SATCAT no.
25605
Website
Mars Polar Lander website
Mission duration
334
Spacecraft properties
Manufacturer
Martin Marietta
Launch mass
290 kilograms (640 lb)
Power
200 W solar array and NiH2 battery
Start of mission
Launch date
20:21:10, January 3, 1999 (1999-01-03T20:21:10)
Rocket
Delta II 7425
Launch site
Cape Canaveral AFS SLC-17A
End of mission
Disposal
failure at landing
Last contact
20:00, December 3, 1999 (1999-12-03T20:00)
Mars lander
Landing date
~20:15 UTC ERT, December 3, 1999
Landing site
Ultimi Scopuli, 76°S 195°W / 76°S 195°W / -76; -195 (Mars Polar Lander) (projected)

Mars Surveyor 98 mission logo
The Mars Polar Lander, also known as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999 to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe, a region near the south pole on Mars. It formed part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission. On December 3, 1999, however, after the descent phase was expected to be complete, the lander failed to reestablish communication with Earth. A post-mortem analysis determined the most likely cause of the mishap was premature termination of the engine firing prior to the lander touching the surface, causing it to strike the planet at a high velocity.[1]
Contents
[hide]
1 Mission background
1.1 History
1.2 Deep Space 2 Probes
1.3 Spacecraft design
1.3.1 Attitude control and propulsion
1.3.2 Communications
1.3.3 Power
1.3.4 Scientific instruments
2 Mission profile
2.1 Launch and trajectory
2.2 Landing attempt
2.3 Intended operations
3 Loss of communications
4 See also
5 References
6 Further reading
7 External links
Mission background[edit]
History[edit]
As part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission, a lander was sought as a way to gather climate data from the ground in conjunction with an orbiter. NASA suspected that a large quantity of frozen water may exist under a thin layer of dust at the south pole. In planning the Mars Polar Lander, the potential water content in the Martian south pole was the strongest determining factor for choosing a landing location.[2] A CD-ROM containing the names of one million children from around the world was placed on board the spacecraft as part of the "Send Your Name to Mars" program designed to encourage interest in the space program among children.[3]
The primary objectives of the mission were to:[4]
land on the layered terrain in the south polar region of Mars;
search for evidence related to ancient climates and more recent periodic climate change;
give a picture of the current climate and seasonal change at high latitudes and, in particular, the exchange of water vapor between the atmosphere and ground;
search for near-surface ground ice in the polar regions, and analyze the soil for physically and chemically bound carbon dioxide and water; and
study surface morphology (forms and structures), geology, topography, and weather of the landing site.
Deep Space 2 Probes[edit]
Main article: Deep Space 2
The Mars Polar Lander carried two small, identical impactor probes known as "Deep Space 2 A and B". The probes were intended to strike the surface with a high velocity at approximately 73°S 210°W / 73°S 210°W / -73; -210 (Deep Space 2), to penetrate the Martian soil, and study the subsurface composition up to a meter in depth. However, after entering the Martian atmosphere, attempts to contact the probes failed.[2]
Spacecraft design[edit]
The spacecraft measured 3.6 meters wide and 1.06 meters tall with the legs and solar arrays fully deployed. The base was primarily constructed with an aluminum honeycomb deck, composite graphite epoxy sheets forming the edge, and three aluminum legs. During landing, the legs were to deploy from stowed position with compression springs and absorb the force of the landing with crushable, aluminum honeycomb inserts in each leg. On the deck of the lander, a small thermal Faraday cage enclosure housed the computer, power distribution electronics and batteries, telecommunication electronics, and the capillary pump loop heat pipe (LHP) components, which maintained operable temperature. Each of these components included redundant units in the event that one may fail.[2][5][6]
Attitude control and propulsion[edit]
While traveling to Mars, the cruise stage was three-axis stabilized with four hydrazine monopropellant reaction engine modules, each including a 22-newton trajectory correction maneuver thruster for propulsion and a 4-newton reaction control system thruster for attitude control. Orientation of the spacecraft was performed using redundant Sun sensors, star trackers, and inertial measurement units.[5]
During descent, the lander used three clusters of pulse modulated engines, each containing four 266-newton hydrazine monopropellant thrusters. Altitude during landing was measured by a doppler radar system, and an attitude and articulation control subsystem (AACS) controlled the attitude to ensure the spacecraft landed at the optimal azimuth to maximize solar collection and telecommunication with the lander.[2][5][6]
The lander was launched with two hydrazine tanks containing 64 kilograms of propellant and pressurized using helium. Each spherical tank was located at the underside of the lander and provided propellant during the cruise and descent stages.[2][5][6]
Communications[edit]
During the cruise stage, communications with the spacecraft were conducted over the X band using a medium-gain, horn-shaped antenna and redundant solid state power amplifiers. For contingency measures, a low-gain omni-directional antenna was also included.[2]
The lander was originally intended to communicate data through the failed Mars Climate Orbiter via the UHF antenna. With the orbiter lost on September 23, 1999, the lander would still be able to communicate directly to the Deep Space Network through the Direct-To-Earth (DTE) link, an X band, steerable, medium-gain, parabolic antenna located on the deck. Alternatively, Mars Global Surveyor could be used as a relay using the UHF antenna at multiple times each Martian day. However the Deep Space Network could only receive data from, and not send commands to, the lander using this method. The direct-to-Earth medium-gain antenna provided a 12.6-kbit/s return channel, and the UHF relay path provided a 128-kbit/s return channel. Communications with the spacecraft would be limited to one-hour events, constrained by heat-buildup that would occur in the amplifiers. The number of communication events would also be constrained by power limitations.[2][4][5][6]
Power[edit]
The cruise stage included two gallium arsenide solar arrays to power the radio system and maintain power to the batteries in the lander, which kept certain electronics warm.[2][5]
After descending to the surface, the lander was to deploy two 3.6-meter-wide gallium arsenide solar arrays, located on either side of the spacecraft. Another two auxiliary solar arrays were located on the side to provide additional power for a total of an expected 200 watts and approximately eight to nine hours of operating time per day.[2][5]
While the Sun would not have set below the horizon during the primary mission, too little light would have reached the solar arrays to remain warm enough for certain electronics to continue functioning. To avoid this problem, a 16-amp-hour nickel hydrogen battery was included to be recharged during the day and to power the heater for the thermal enclosure at night. This solution also was expected to limit the life of the lander. As the Martian days would grow colder in late summer, too little power would be supplied to the heater to avoid freezing, resulting in the battery also freezing and signaling the end of the operating life for the lander.[2][5][6]
Scientific instruments[edit]
Scientific instruments
Mars Descent Imager
Stereo Surface Imager
LIDAR
Robotic Arm
Robotic Arm Camera
Meteorological Package
Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer
Mars Microphone
Images of the spacecraft
Annotated diagram of the Mars Polar Lander spacecraft
The spacecraft in stowed position just prior to encapsulation
Testing performed at the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility
The Mars Polar Lander entry capsule, just prior to being mounted to the Star 48 upper stage
Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)
Mounted to the bottom of the lander, the camera was intended to capture 30 images as the spacecraft descended to the surface. The images acquired would be used to provide geographic and geologic context to the landing area.[7]
Surface Stereo Imager (SSI)
Using a pair of charge coupled devices (CCD), the stereo panoramic camera was mounted to a one-meter-tall mast and would aid in the thermal evolved gas analyzer in determining areas of interest for the robotic arm. In addition, the camera would be used to estimate the column density of atmospheric dust, the optical depth of aerosols, and slant column abundances of water vapor using narrow-band imaging of the Sun.[8]
Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)
The laser sounding instrument was intended to detect and characterize aerosols in the atmosphere up to three kilometers above the lander. The instrument operated in two modes: active mode, using an included laser diode, and acoustic mode, using the Sun as the light source for the sensor. In active mode, the laser sounder was to emit 100-nanosecond pulses at a wavelength of 0.88-micrometer into the atmosphere, and then record the duration of time to detect the light scattered by aerosols. The duration of time required for the light to return could then be used to determine the abundance of ice, dust and other aerosols in the region. In acoustic mode, the instrument measures the brightness of the sky as lit by the Sun and records the scattering of light as it passes to the sensor.[9]
Robotic Arm (RA)
Located on the front of the lander, the robotic arm was a meter-long aluminum tube with an elbow joint and an articulated scoop attached to the end. The scoop was intended to be used to dig into the soil in the direct vicinity of the lander. The soil could then be analyzed in the scoop with the robotic arm camera or transferred into the thermal evolved gas analyzer.[8]
Robotic Arm Camera (RAC)
Located on the robotic arm, the charge coupled camera included two red, two green, and four blue lamps to illuminate soil samples for analysis.[8]
Meteorological Package (MET)
Several instruments related to sensing and recording weather patterns, were included in the package. Wind, temperature, pressure, and humidity sensors were located on the robotic arm and two deployable masts: a 1.2-meter main mast, located on top of the lander, and a 0.9-meter secondary submast that would deploy downward to acquire measurements close to the ground.[8]
Thermal and Evolved Gas Analyzer (TEGA)
The instrument was intended to measure abundances of water, water ice, adsorbed carbon dioxide, oxygen, and volatile-bearing minerals in surface and subsurface soil samples collected and transferred by the robotic arm. Materials placed onto a grate inside one of the eight ovens, would be heated and vaporized at 1,000 °C. The evolved gas analyzer would then record measurements using a spectrometer and an electrochemical cell. For calibration, an empty oven would also be heated during this process for differential scanning calorimetry. The difference in the energy required to heat each oven would then indicate concentrations of water ice and other minerals containing water or carbon dioxide.[8]
Mars Microphone
The microphone was intended to be the first instrument to record sounds on another planet. Primarily composed of a microphone generally used with hearing aids, the instrument was expected to record sounds of blowing dust, electrical discharges and the sounds of the operating spacecraft in either 2.6-second or 10.6-second, 12-bit samples.[10] The microphone was built using off-the-shelf parts including a Sensory, Inc. RSC-164 integrated circuit typically used in speech-recognition devices.[11]
Mission profile[edit]
Timeline of observations
Date
Event
1999-01-03
Spacecraft launched at 20:21:10 UTC
1999-12-03
[show] Begin atmospheric entry and landing
Time
Event
1999-12-03
14:39:00
Turn spacecraft away from Earth for final stellar data acquisition, signal loss from spacecraft
14:42:00
Turn on heaters on descent engine
17:34:00
Turn on heaters on descent camera (MARDI)
18:49:00
Turn spacecraft back to Earth point, acquire spacecraft signal, acquire health & status
19:21:00
Begin Entry, Descent, Landing sequence
19:26:00
Pyros fire to pressurize helium tank
20:00:00
Guidance system initialization (2210 km, 6.2 km/s)
20:03:00
Turn spacecraft to entry attitude, loss of signal. We won't hear from the spacecraft again until after landing (1426 km, 6.4 km/s)
20:05:00
Cruise ring/Deep Space 2 probes separate from lander (959 km, 6.6 km/s)
20:10:00
Atmospheric entry (142 km, 6.9 km/s)
20:11:00
Descent radar powered on
20:12:00
MARDI instrument powered on
20:13:00
Parachute deployed (9.0 km, 496 m/s)
20:13:00
Descent imaging begins, heatshield jettisoned (8.0 km, 286 m/s)
20:13:00
Lander legs deployed, descent radar activated
20:14
Radar ground acquisition, altitude (2.438 km, 80 m/s)
20:14:00
Lander separates from backshell, powered descent begins (1.628 km, 78 m/s)
20:14:00
Radar ground acquisition, speed & direction (1.425 km, 82 m/s)
20:14
Gravity turn begins (1.394 km, 83 m/s)
20:14:00
Roll to landed orientation (1.307 km, 79 m/s)
20:14:00
Radar cutoff (40 meters, 13 m/s)
20:15:00
Constant Velocity Phase (12 meters, 2.4 m/s)
20:15:00
Touchdown. Mars Polar Lander on Mars surface.
20:20:00
Lander unfolds solar panels
20:20:00
Medium gain antenna pointed at Earth
20:39:00
Lander begins 1st transmission to Earth (45 minutes). Sends health & status, meteorology & 1 b/w image
21:24:00
Lander ends transmission to Earth
21:45:00
Lander powers down to sleep so it can recharge
22:10:00
Start of 1 hour backup downlink opportunity (if spacecraft went into safemode during landing)
1999-12-04
02:50:00
Lander wakes up, receives instructions from Earth
03:25:00
Begin DS2 microprobe data reception via Mars Global Surveyor relay (15 minute transmission)
04:25:00
2.5 hour downlink begins, could include lander and descent images
06:25:00
Lander shuts itself down until next day. End of Sol 0 activities.
Items in red were planned events.
1999-12-03
[show]Failure to regain communication after landing
Time
Event
1999-12-03
20:39:00
First communication from lander missed
22:04:00
Second communication from lander missed
1999-12-04
04:08:00
Third communication from lander missed
1999-12-05
04:30:00
Fourth communication from lander missed
18:50:00
First attempt to detect automatic fail-safe UHF communication to Mars Global Surveyor failed
1999-12-06
06:10:00
Second attempt to detect automatic fail-safe UHF communication to Mars Global Surveyor failed
1999-12-07
08:20:00
Third attempt to detect automatic fail-safe UHF communication to Mars Global Surveyor failed
1999-12-08
Radio sweeps of the surface by the Deep Space Network failed. Repeat of prior procedures to exhaust all possibilities of regaining contact.
2000-01-17
Mission declared a loss. No further attempts to contact.
Launch and trajectory[edit]
Mars Polar Lander was launched on January 3, 1999, at 20:21:10 UTC by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration from Space Launch Complex 17B at the Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, aboard a Delta II 7425 launch vehicle. The complete burn sequence lasted for 47.7 minutes after a Thiokol Star 48B solid-fuel third stage booster placed the spacecraft into an 11-month, Mars transfer trajectory at a final velocity of 6.884 kilometers per second with respect to Mars. During cruise, the spacecraft was stowed inside an aeroshell capsule and a segment known as the cruise stage provided power and communications with Earth.[2][4][5]
Launch configuration diagram.
Launch photo of Mars Polar Lander aboard a Delta II launch vehicle.
Diagram of the interplanetary trajectory of Mars Polar Lander.
Landing attempt[edit]
Further information: Exploration of Mars
Cruise configuration
Landing procedure
Landing region
Mars Polar Lander entered the Martian atmosphere with an aeroshell for protection from atmospheric friction.
On December 3, 1999, Mars Polar Lander encountered Mars while mission operators began preparing for landing operations. At 14:39:00 UTC, the cruise stage was jettisoned, beginning a planned communication dropout until the spacecraft had touched down on the surface. Six minutes prior to atmospheric entry, a programmed 80-second thruster firing turned the spacecraft to the proper entry orientation, with the heat shield oriented to absorb the 1,650 °C heat that would be generated as the descent capsule passed through the atmosphere.
Traveling at 6.9 kilometers per second, the entry capsule entered the Martian atmosphere at 20:10:00 UTC and was expected to land in the vicinity of 76°S 195°W / 76°S 195°W / -76; -195 (Mars Polar Lander) in a region known as Planum Australe. Communication was expected to be reestablished with the spacecraft at 20:39:00 UTC after having landed. However, no communication was possible with the spacecraft and the lander was declared lost.[2][4][5]
On May 25, 2008 the Phoenix lander arrived at Mars, and has subsequently completed most of the objectives of the Mars Polar Lander, carrying several of the same or derivative instruments.
Interactive imagemap of the global topography of Mars, overlain with locations of Mars landers and rovers (Red label = Rover; Blue label = Lander; bold red/blue = currently active). Hover your mouse to see the names of over 25 prominent geographic features, and click to link to them. Coloring of the base map indicates relative elevations, based on data from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter on NASA's Mars Global Surveyor. Reds and pinks are higher elevation (+3 km to +8 km); yellow is 0 km; greens and blues are lower elevation (down to −8 km). Whites (>+12 km) and browns (>+8 km) are the highest elevations. Axes are latitude and longitude; Poles are not shown.
(See also: Mars map & Mars Memorials & Mars Memorials map) (view • discuss)
← Beagle 2 (2003)
Curiosity (2012) →
Deep Space 2 (1999) →
Mars 2 (1971) →
← Mars 3 (1971)
Mars 6 (1973) →
Polar Lander (1999) ↓
↑ Opportunity (2004)
← Phoenix (2008)
Schiaparelli EDM (2016) →
← Sojourner (1997)
Spirit (2004) ↑
Viking 1 (1976) →
Viking 2 (1976) →
Intended operations[edit]
Traveling at approximately 6.9 kilometers/second and 125 kilometers above the surface, the spacecraft entered the atmosphere and was initially decelerated by using a 2.4 meter ablation heat shield, located on the bottom of the entry body, to aerobrake through 116 kilometers of the atmosphere. Three minutes after entry, the spacecraft had slowed to 496 meters per second signaling an 8.4-meter, polyester parachute to deploy from a mortar followed immediately by heat shield separation and MARDI powering on, while 8.8 kilometers above the surface. The parachute further slowed the speed of the spacecraft to 85 meters per second when the ground radar began tracking surface features to detect the best possible landing location.
When the spacecraft had slowed to 80 meters per second, one minute after parachute deployment, the lander separated from the backshell and began a powered descent while 1.3 kilometers aloft. The powered descent was expected to have lasted approximately one minute, bringing the spacecraft 12 meters above the surface. The engines were then shut off and the spacecraft would expectedly fall to the surface and land at 20:15:00 UTC near 76°S 195°W in Planum Australe.[2][4][5][6]
Lander operations were to begin five minutes after touchdown, first unfolding the stowed solar arrays, followed by orienting the medium-gain, direct-to-Earth antenna to allow for the first communication with the Deep Space Network. At 20:39 UTC, a 45-minute transmission was to be broadcast to Earth, transmitting the expected 30 landing images acquired by MARDI and signaling a successful landing. The lander would then power down for six hours to allow the batteries to charge. On the following days, the spacecraft instruments would be checked by operators and science experiments were to begin on December 7 and last for at least the following 90 Martian Sols, with the possibility of an extended mission.[2][4][5][6]
Loss of communications[edit]
On 3 December 1999, at 14:39:00 UTC, the last telemetry from Mars Polar Lander was sent, just prior to cruise stage separation and the subsequent atmospheric entry. No further signals were received from the spacecraft. Attempts were made by Mars Global Surveyor to photograph the area in which the lander was believed to be. An object was visible and believed to be the lander. However, subsequent imaging performed by Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter resulted in the identified object being ruled out. Mars Polar Lander remains lost.[12][13]
The cause of the communication loss is not known. However, the Failure Review Board concluded that the most likely cause of the mishap was a software error that incorrectly identified vibrations, caused by the deployment of the stowed legs, as surface touchdown.[14] The resulting action by the spacecraft was the shutdown of the descent engines, while still likely 40 meters above the surface. Although it was known that leg deployment could create the false indication, the software's design instructions did not account for that eventuality.[15]
In addition to the premature shutdown of the descent engines, the Failure Review Board also assessed other potential modes of failure.[1] Lacking substantial evidence for the mode of failure, the following possibilities could not be excluded:
surface conditions exceed landing design capabilities;
loss of control due to dynamic effects;
landing site not survivable;
backshell/parachute contacts lander;
loss of control due to center-of-mass offset; or
heatshield fails due to micrometeoroid impact.
The failure of the Mars Polar Lander took place two-and-a-half months after the loss of the Mars Climate Orbiter. Inadequate funding and poor management have been cited as underlying causes of the failures.[16] According to Thomas Young, chairman of the Mars Program Independent Assessment Team, the program "was under funded by at least 30%."[17]
Quoted from the report[1]
"A magnetic sensor is provided in each of the three landing legs to sense touchdown when the lander contacts the surface, initiating the shutdown of the descent engines. Data from MPL engineering development unit deployment tests, MPL flight unit deployment tests, and Mars 2001 deployment tests showed that a spurious touchdown indication occurs in the Hall Effect touchdown sensor during landing leg deployment (while the lander is connected to the parachute). The software logic accepts this transient signal as a valid touchdown event if it persists for two consecutive readings of the sensor. The tests showed that most of the transient signals at leg deployment are indeed long enough to be accepted as valid events, therefore, it is almost a certainty that at least one of the three would have generated a spurious touchdown indication that the software accepted as valid.
The software—intended to ignore touchdown indications prior to the enabling of the touchdown sensing logic—was not properly implemented, and the spurious touchdown indication was retained. The touchdown sensing logic is enabled at 40 meters altitude, and the software would have issued a descent engine thrust termination at this time in response to a (spurious) touchdown indication.
At 40 meters altitude, the lander has a velocity of approximately 13 meters per second, which, in the absence of thrust, is accelerated by Mars gravity to a surface impact velocity of approximately 22 meters per second (the nominal touchdown velocity is 2.4 meters per second). At this impact velocity, the lander could not have survived."
See also[edit]
Spaceflight portal
Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander, similar design lander, mission cancelled. Lander used for Phoenix.
Phoenix lander, 2008
Exploration of Mars
ExoMars rover
List of missions to Mars
Mars Science Laboratory rover
References[edit]
^ Jump up to: a b c "Report on the Loss of the Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 Missions" (PDF). Jet Propulsion Laboratory. 22 March 2000.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "1998 Mars Missions Press Kit" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 1998. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
Jump up ^ Ben Huh (3 March 1998). "Kids' Names Going To Mars". SunSentinel. Retrieved 2013-05-30.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Mars Polar Lander/Deep Space 2 Press Kit" (PDF) (Press release). NASA. 1999. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k l "Mars Polar Lander". NASA/National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g "MPL: Lander Flight System Description". NASA / JPL. 1998. Archived from the original on 2011-07-21. Retrieved 2011-03-12.
Jump up ^ "Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)". NASA/National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
^ Jump up to: a b c d e "Mars Volatiles and Climate Surveyor (MVACS)". NASA/National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
Jump up ^ "Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR)". NASA/National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
Jump up ^ "Mars Microphone". NASA/National Space Science Data Center. Retrieved 2011-03-17.
Jump up ^ "Projects: Planetary Microphones -- The Mars Microphone". The Planetary Society. Archived from the original on 2006-08-18.
Jump up ^ Editors (6 May 2005). "Mars Polar Lander Found at Last?". Sky and Telescope. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
Jump up ^ "Release No. MOC2-1253: Mars Polar Lander NOT Found". Mars Global Surveyor / Mars Orbiter Camera. NASA/JPL/Malin Space Science Systems. 17 October 2005. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
Jump up ^ [1] Youtube - NASA 3: Mission Failures
Jump up ^ Nancy G. Leveson. "The Role of Software in Recent Aerospace Accidents" (PDF).
Jump up ^ Thomas Young (14 March 2000). "Mars Program Independent Assessment Team Summary Report". Draft #7 3/13/00. House Science and Technology Committee. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
Jump up ^ Jeffrey Kaye (14 April 2000). "NASA in the Hot Seat" (transcript). NewsHour with Jim Lehrer. PBS. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
Further reading[edit]
"Mars Polar Lander (1999-001A)". NSSDC Master Catalog. NASA. 2001. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
Michael C. Malin (July 2005). "Hidden in Plain Sight: Finding Martian Landers". Sky and Telescope. 110 (7): 42–46. ISSN 0037-6604.
"Press Kit: 1998 Mars Missions" (.PDF) (Press release). National Aeronautics and Space Administration. 8 December 1998. Retrieved 2009-04-22.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Mars Polar Lander.
Mars Polar Lander site at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mars Polar Lander Mission at The NASA Solar System Exploration Home Page
[show]
v
t
e
Spacecraft missions to Mars
Current
Orbiters
ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter
Mangalyaan
Mars Express
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
MAVEN
2001 Mars Odyssey
Rovers
Curiosity
timeline
Opportunity
observations

Past
Flybys
Dawn
Mariner 4
Mariner 6
Mariner 7
Mars 1†
Mars 6
Mars 7
Nozomi†
Rosetta
Zond 2†
Orbiters
Mariner 9
Mars 2
Mars 3
Mars 4†
Mars 5†
Mars Climate Orbiter†
Mars Global Surveyor
Mars Observer†
Phobos program
Phobos 1†
Phobos 2†
Viking program
Viking 1
Viking 2
Landers
Beagle 2†
ExoMars Schiaparelli†
Mars 2†
Mars 3†
Mars 6†
Mars 7†
Mars Pathfinder
Mars Polar Lander† / Deep Space 2†
Phoenix
Viking 1
Viking 2
Rovers
Prop-M†
Sojourner
Spirit
observations
Special
Zond 3 (crossed Mars orbit)
Failed launch
Fobos-Grunt / Yinghuo-1
Kosmos 419
1M No.1
1M No.2
2MV-4 No.1
2MV-3 No.1
Mariner 3
2M No.521
2M No.522
Mariner 8
Mars 96
Planned
InSight / Mars Cube One (2018)
ExoMars rover / ExoMars 2020 surface platform (2020)
Mars 2020 (2020)
Mars Global Remote Sensing Orbiter and Small Rover (2020)
Emirates Mars Mission (2020)
Mars Terahertz Microsatellite (2020)
Mangalyaan 2 (2021 or 2022)
Psyche (2023, flyby only)
Proposed
BOLD
Icebreaker Life
Inspiration Mars
Mars 2022
Mars Geyser Hopper
Mars-Grunt
Mars One
Mars sample return mission
MELOS rover
MetNet
Northern Light
PADME
Phootprint
SCIM
Sky-Sailor
Cancelled /
concepts
ARES
Astrobiology Field Laboratory
Beagle 3
Mars 4NM & 5NM
Mars 5M (Mars-79)
Mars-Aster
Mars Astrobiology Explorer-Cacher
Mars Surveyor Lander
Mars Telecommunications Orbiter
NetLander
Red Dragon
Vesta
Voyager
Related
Mars race
Features and artificial objects on Mars
Features and memorials on Mars
† indicates failure en route or before intended mission data returned.
[show]
v
t
e
Mars
Outline of Mars
Geography
Atmosphere
Circulation
Climate
Dust devil tracks
Methane
Regions
Arabia Terra
Cerberus Hemisphere
Cydonia
Eridania Lake
Iani Chaos
Olympia Undae
Planum Australe
Planum Boreum
Quadrangles
Sinus Meridiani
Tempe Terra
Terra Cimmeria
Terra Sabaea
Tharsis
Undae
Ultimi Scopuli
Vastitas Borealis
Features
Canyons
Catenae
Chaos terrain
Craters
Fossae
Gullies
Mensae
Labyrinthi
Mountains
by height
Observed rocks
Outflow channels
Plains
Valley network
Valleys
Geology
Brain terrain
Canals (list)
Carbonates
Chaos terrain
Color
Composition
Concentric crater fill
Dark slope streak
Dichotomy
Fretted terrain
Geysers
Glaciers
Groundwater
Gullies
Lakes
Lava tubes
Lobate debris apron
Meteorites
on Earth
on Mars
North Polar Basin
Ocean hypothesis
Ore resources
Polar caps
Recurring slope lineae (RSL)
Ring mold craters
Rootless cones
Seasonal flows
Soil
Spherules
Surface
"Swiss cheese" feature
Terrain softening
Tharsis bulge
Volcanology
Water
Yardangs
History
Amazonian
Hesperian
Noachian
Observation history
Classical albedo features
Astronomy
Moons
Phobos
Stickney crater
Monolith
Deimos
Swift crater
Voltaire crater
Transits
Solar eclipses on Mars
Satellite transits
Phobos
Deimos
Planetary transits
Earth
Venus
Mercury
Asteroids
Mars-crossers
2007 WD5
Trojans
5261 Eureka
1998 VF31
1999 UJ7
2007 NS2
Comets
C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) (Mars close approach, 19 Oct 2014)
Exploration
Concepts
Flyby
Orbiter
Landing
Rover
Sample return
Manned mission
Permanent settlement
Colonization
Terraforming
Current
ExoMars
orbiter
lander
Mangalyaan
Mars Exploration Rover
Opportunity
observed
Mars Express
2001 Mars Odyssey
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter
HiRISE
HiWish program
Mars Science Laboratory
Curiosity
timeline
MAVEN
Past
Beagle 2
Deep Space 2
Mariner program
Mariner 4
Mariner 6 and 7
Mariner 9
Mars program
Mars 1
Mars 2
Mars 3
Mars 4
Mars 5
Mars 6
Mars 7
Mars 96
Mars Exploration Rover
Spirit
observed
Mars Global Surveyor
MOC
Mars Observer
Mars Pathfinder
Sojourner
Mars Surveyor '98 program
Mars Climate Orbiter
Mars Polar Lander
Nozomi
Phobos program
Phobos 1
Phobos 2
Phoenix
Viking program
Viking 1
Viking 2
Yinghuo-1
Zond 2
Future
ExoMars
rover
surface platform
Emirates Mars Mission
InSight
Mangalyaan 2
Mars 2020
MOXIE
PIXL
SHERLOC
Mars Global Remote Sensing Orbiter and Small Rover
Proposed
Robotic
Icebreaker Life
Mars 2022 orbiter
Mars Geyser Hopper
Mars-Grunt
MELOS
MetNet
Northern Light
PADME
Phobos Surveyor
Phootprint
Manned
Mars Base Camp
Mars Design Reference Mission
Austere Human Missions to Mars
Mars Direct
Mars One
Mars to Stay
SpaceX Mars transportation infrastructure
Abandoned
Caves of Mars Project
Mars Piloted Orbital Station
Red Dragon
SCIM
TMK
Simulations
Arctic Mars Analog Svalbard Expedition
Haughton–Mars Project
HI-SEAS
Mars Analogue Research Station Program
Euro-MARS
FMARS
MARS-Oz
MDRS
MARS-500
Strategies
Mars Scout Program
Mars Exploration Program
Mars Exploration Joint Initiative
Mars Next Generation
Advocacy
The Mars Project
The Case for Mars
Inspiration Mars Foundation
Mars Institute
Mars Society
ICAMSR
Mars race
Related
Artificial objects on Mars
Memorials on Mars
Fiction
List of films set on Mars
Martian
Martian scientist
Mythology
Phobos and Deimos in fiction
Flag of Mars
Life on Mars
Sub-Earth
Timekeeping on Mars
Darian calendar
Book
Category
Portal
[show]
v
t
e
← 1998 · Orbital launches in 1999 · 2000 →
Mars Polar Lander | ROCSAT-1 | Stardust | Globalstar 23 · Globalstar 36 · Globalstar 38 · Globalstar 40 | Telstar 6 | JCSAT-6 | Soyuz TM-29 | ARGOS · Ørsted · SUNSAT | Arabsat 3A · Skynet 4E | Globus No.15 | Wide Field Infrared Explorer | Globalstar 23 · Globalstar 37 · Globalstar 41 · Globalstar 46 | AsiaSat 3S | DemoSat | Progress M-41 · Sputnik 99 | INSAT-2E | USA-142 | Eutelsat W3 | Globalstar 19 · Globalstar 42 · Globalstar 44 · Globalstar 45 | Landsat 7 | UoSAT-12 | Ikonos-1 | ABRIXAS · Megsat-0 | USA-143 | Orion 3 | Feng Yun 1C · Shijian 5 | TERRIERS · MUBLCOM | Nimiq 1 | USA-144 | Oceansat-1 · Kitsat-3 · DLR-Tubsat | STS-96 (Starshine 1) | Globalstar 25 · Globalstar 47 · Globalstar 49 · Globalstar 52 | Iridium 14A · Iridium 21A | Astra 1H | QuikSCAT | FUSE | Gran' No.45 | Molniya 3-50 | Globalstar 30 · Globalstar 32 · Globalstar 35 · Globalstar 51 | Progress M-42 | Okean-O No.1 | STS-93 (Chandra) | Globalstar 26 · Globalstar 28 · Globalstar 43 · Globalstar 48 | Telkom 1 · Globalstar 24 · Globalstar 27 · Globalstar 53 · Globalstar 54 | Kosmos 2365 | Kosmos 2366 | Koreasat 3 | Yamal-101 · Yamal-102 | Foton 12 | Globalstar 33 · Globalstar 50 · Globalstar 55 · Globalstar 58 | EchoStar V | Ikonos 2 | Telstar 7 | LMI-1 | Resurs F-1M | USA-145 | DirecTV-1R | CBERS-1 · SACI-1 | Globalstar 31 · Globalstar 56 · Globalstar 57 · Globalstar 59 | Orion 2 | Ekspress A1 | GE-4 | MTSAT-1 | Shenzhou 1 | Globalstar 29 · Globalstar 34 · Globalstar 39 · Globalstar 61 | USA-146 | Hélios 1B · Clémentine | Orbcomm FM30 · Orbcomm FM31 · Orbcomm FM32 · Orbcomm FM33 · Orbcomm FM34 · Orbcomm FM35 · Orbcomm FM36 | XMM-Newton | SACI-2 | USA-147 | Terra | STS-103 | Arirang-1 · ACRIMSAT · Millennial | Galaxy 11 | Kosmos 2367 | Kosmos 2368
Payloads are separated by bullets ( · ), launches by pipes ( | ). Manned flights are indicated in bold text. Uncatalogued launch failures are listed in italics. Payloads deployed from other spacecraft are denoted in brackets.
[show]
v
t
e
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Current missions
ACRIMSAT
AIRS
ASTER
Dawn
GRACE
Juno
W. M. Keck Observatory
Kepler
2001 Mars Odyssey
LBT
MER
MISR
MLS
MRO
MSL
Rosetta
Spitzer Space Telescope
TES
Voyager
Past missions
Cassini-Huygens
Deep Impact
Deep Space 1
Deep Space 2
Explorer
GALEX
Galileo
Genesis
Herschel
IRAS
Jason-1
Magellan
Mariner
Mars Climate Orbiter
Mars Observer
Mars Pathfinder
Mars Polar Lander
Mars Global Surveyor
NSCAT
Phoenix
Pioneer
QuikSCAT
Ranger
Seasat
SIR
SME
Stardust
SRTM
Surveyor
SVLBI
TOPEX/Poseidon
Ulysses
Viking
WFPC
WIRE
Cancelled missions
AFL
Related organizations
NASA
Caltech
Deep Space Network
Goldstone Complex
Table Mountain Observatory
Solar System Ambassadors
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Mars_Polar_Lander&oldid=809283596"
Categories:
Missions to Mars
NASA space probes
Derelict landers (spacecraft)
Mare Australe quadrangle
Spacecraft launched in 1999
Spacecraft launched by Delta II rockets
Space accidents and incidents in the United States
Attached spacecraft
Hidden categories:
Pages using deprecated image syntax
Navigation menu
Personal tools
Not logged in
Talk
Contributions
Create account
Log in
Namespaces
Article
Talk
Variants
Views
Read
Edit
View history
More
Search
Navigation
Main page
Contents
Featured content
Current events
Random article
Donate to Wikipedia
Wikipedia store
Interaction
Help
About Wikipedia
Community portal
Recent changes
Contact page
Tools
What links here
Related changes
Upload file
Special pages
Permanent link
Page information
Wikidata item
Cite this page
Print/export
Create a book
Download as PDF
Printable version
In other projects
Wikimedia Commons
Languages
Български
Català
Čeština
Deutsch
Eesti
Español
Euskara
فارسی
Français
Galego
한국어
हिन्दी
Ido
Bahasa Indonesia
Íslenska
Italiano
עברית
Latviešu
Lietuvių
Magyar
Bahasa Melayu
Nederlands
日本語
Polski
Português
Русский
Slovenčina
Српски / srpski
Suomi
Svenska
Українська
中文
Edit links
This page was last edited on 8 November 2017, at 05:05.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License; additional terms may apply. By using this site, you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Wikipedia® is a registered trademark of the Wikimedia Foundation, Inc., a non-profit organization.
Privacy policy
About Wikipedia
Disclaimers
Contact Wikipedia
Developers
Cookie statement
Mobile view
Enable previews

key: html

type: local

value: div

attrs: id class

values: mw-page-base noprint

values: mw-head-base noprint

value: a

attrs: id class lang

values: firstHeading firstHeading en

values: siteSub noprint

values: jump-to-nav mw-jump

value: caption

value: img

attrs: alt src width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: Mars Polar Lander - artist depiction.png

attrs: href class

value: td

attrs: colspan style

value: tr

value: th

attrs: href title

values:
nofollow
http://mars.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/lander/
external text

values:
/wiki/Solar_array
mw-redirect
Solar array

values:
/wiki/Nickel_hydrogen_battery
mw-redirect
Nickel hydrogen battery

values: Cape Canaveral Air Force Station Space Launch Complex 17

values: Maps, aerial photos, and other data for this location

values:
/wiki/Impactor_(spacecraft)
mw-redirect
Impactor (spacecraft)

values: Edit section: Attitude control and propulsion

values:
/wiki/Deep_Space_Network
mw-redirect
Deep Space Network

attrs: alt src width height class srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: min-height:3.1em;width:187px;line-height:1.3em;padding:2px 6px 1px 6px;margin:0px;border:none;border-width:0px

values:
/wiki/Charge_coupled_device
mw-redirect
Charge coupled device

values:
/wiki/Panoramic_camera
mw-redirect
Panoramic camera

values: display: none; background-color: rgb(224, 224, 224);

attrs: cellspacing cellpadding align width style

values: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

values: Diagram of the configured positions of Mars Polar Lander within a Delta II launch vehicle

values: min-height:3.1em;width:182px;line-height:1.3em;padding:2px 6px 1px 6px;margin:0px;border:none;border-width:0px

values: Launch photo of Mars Polar Lander being lifted into space by a Delta II launch vehicle

values: Cruise configuration diagram of Mars Polar Lander.

values: Diagram of landing prodedures of Mars Polar Lander as it would pass through the atmosphere and land on the surface.

values: Map of the region targeted for landing by the Mars Polar Lander.

attrs: alt src width height class data-file-width data-file-height usemap

values: Template:Features and artificial objects on Mars

values: Template talk:Features and artificial objects on Mars

attrs: alt src width height data-file-width data-file-height

values: position: absolute; left: 440px; top: 134px

values: font:bold 11px Arial;display:inline;border:#151B8D 1px solid;background-color:#9999ff;padding:0 4px 0 4px;

values: position: absolute; left: 460px; top: 135px

values: position: absolute; left: 523px; top: 169px

values: font:bold 11px Arial;display:inline;border:#151B8D 1px solid;background-color:#ff0000;padding:0 4px 0 4px;

values: position: absolute; left: 409px; top: 169px

values: position: absolute; left: 520px; top: 300px

values: position: absolute; left: 408px; top: 300px

values: position: absolute; left: 370px; top: 234px

values: position: absolute; left: 290px; top: 235px

values: position: absolute; left: 65px; top: 234px

values: position: absolute; left: 85px; top: 235px

values: position: absolute; left: 270px; top: 195px

values: position: absolute; left: 188px; top: 195px

values: position: absolute; left: 545px; top: 300px

values: position: absolute; left: 458px; top: 282px

values: position: absolute; left: 300px; top: 169px

values: position: absolute; left: 300px; top: 186px

values: position: absolute; left: 116px; top: 28px

values: position: absolute; left: 136px; top: 30px

values: position: absolute; left: 278px; top: 169px

values: position: absolute; left: 149px; top: 170px

values: position: absolute; left: 260px; top: 124px

values: font:bold 11px Arial;display:inline;border:#151B8D 1px solid;background-color:#ff4d4d;padding:0 4px 0 4px;

values: position: absolute; left: 280px; top: 124px

values: position: absolute; left: 562px; top: 184px

values: position: absolute; left: 508px; top: 201px

values: position: absolute; left: 233px; top: 119px

values: position: absolute; left: 143px; top: 120px

values: position: absolute; left: 495px; top: 67px

values: position: absolute; left: 405px; top: 68px

values: position: relative; width: 620px; height: 380px; margin: 0 auto;

values: display:table-cell;padding:0.2em 0.2em 0.2em 0.3em;vertical-align:middle

values: margin:0.5em 0 0.5em 1em;border:solid #aaa 1px

values: div-col columns column-count column-count-2

values: -moz-column-count: 2; -webkit-column-count: 2; column-count: 2;

values: -moz-column-width: 30em; -webkit-column-width: 30em; column-width: 30em; list-style-type: decimal;

values:
nofollow
external text
//www.worldcat.org/issn/0037-6604

values:
nofollow
http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/
external text

values:
row
navbox-group
text-align: center;;width:1%

values:
row
navbox-group
width:1%;text-align: center;

values: List of surface features of Mars seen by Opportunity

values:
navbox-image
7
width:1px;padding:0px 0px 0px 2px

values: List of surface features of Mars seen by Spirit

values: Mars Global Remote Sensing Orbiter and Small Rover

values: Sample Collection for Investigation of Mars

values: Aerial Regional-scale Environmental Survey

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner

values:
/wiki/Gully_(Mars)
mw-redirect
Gully (Mars)

values:
/wiki/Labyrinthi_(planetary_geology)
mw-redirect
Labyrinthi (planetary geology)

values:
/wiki/Geyser_(Mars)
mw-redirect
Geyser (Mars)

values: Transit of Venus from Mars (page does not exist)

values: List of surface features of Mars imaged by Opportunity

values: List of surface features of Mars imaged by Spirit

values: Planetary Instrument for X-Ray Lithochemistry

values: Scanning Habitable Environments with Raman and Luminescence for Organics and Chemicals

values: SpaceX Mars transportation infrastructure

values: International Committee Against Mars Sample Return

attrs: alt src title width height srcset data-file-width data-file-height

values: nowraplinks hlist collapsible collapsed navbox-inner

values: DemoSat (satellite) (page does not exist)

values:
/wiki/Feng_Yun_1C
mw-redirect
Feng Yun 1C

values: nowraplinks collapsible autocollapse navbox-inner

values:
/wiki/Atmospheric_Infrared_Sounder
mw-redirect
Atmospheric Infrared Sounder

values: Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission and Reflection Radiometer

values:
/wiki/Microwave_Limb_Sounder
mw-redirect
Microwave Limb Sounder

values:
/wiki/Explorer_program
mw-redirect
Explorer program

values: Goldstone Deep Space Communications Complex

values: Category:Spacecraft launched by Delta II rockets

values: Category:Space accidents and incidents in the United States

values: Category:Pages using deprecated image syntax

values: Discussion about edits from this IP address [ctrl-alt-n]

values: A list of edits made from this IP address [ctrl-alt-y]

values: You are encouraged to create an account and log in; however, it is not mandatory

values: You're encouraged to log in; however, it's not mandatory. [ctrl-alt-o]

values:
/wiki/Mars_Polar_Lander
View the content page [ctrl-alt-c]
c

values: Discussion about the content page [ctrl-alt-t]

values: p-namespaces navigation vectorTabs p-namespaces-label

values:
p-variants
navigation
vectorMenu emptyPortlet
p-variants-label

values: portal navigation p-navigation p-navigation-label

values: Guidance on how to use and edit Wikipedia

values: About the project, what you can do, where to find things

values: A list of recent changes in the wiki [ctrl-alt-r]

values: portal navigation p-interaction p-interaction-label

values: List of all English Wikipedia pages containing links to this page [ctrl-alt-j]

values: Recent changes in pages linked from this page [ctrl-alt-k]

values:
/wiki/Wikipedia:File_Upload_Wizard
Upload files [ctrl-alt-u]
u

values: A list of all special pages [ctrl-alt-q]

values: Permanent link to this revision of the page

values: Link to connected data repository item [ctrl-alt-g]

values: Printable version of this page [ctrl-alt-p]

values: portal navigation p-wikibase-otherprojects p-wikibase-otherprojects-label

values:
uls-settings-trigger
Language settings
0
button
true

values: Марс Полър Лендър – Bulgarian

values: قطب نشین مریخ – Persian

values: 마스 폴라 랜더 – Korean

values: मंगल पोलर लैंडर – Hindi

values: נחתת הקוטב של מאדים – Hebrew

values: マーズ・ポーラー・ランダー – Japanese

values: Марсов поларни лендер – Serbian

values: 火星極地著陸者號 – Chinese

values: mediawiki ltr sitedir-ltr mw-hide-empty-elt ns-0 ns-subject page-Mars_Polar_Lander rootpage-Mars_Polar_Lander vector-experimental-print-styles vector-nav-directionality skin-vector action-view