modern exploration mars pathfinder “nasa’s mars pathfinder mission – the first spacecraft to...

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

“NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission – the first spacecraft to land on Mars in more than 20 years and the first ever to send a rover out to independently explore the Martian landscape – is set for touchdown July 4, initiating a new era of scientific exploration that will lead eventually to human expeditions to the red planet.”

Mars Pathfinder Landing Press Kit, July 1997

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

The primary mission objectives were to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost landings on, and exploration of, the Martian surface (Faster, Better, Cheaper)

Scientific objectives included atmospheric entry science long-range and close-up surface imaging the general objective was to characterize the Martian environment

for further exploration

Modern ExplorationMars PathfinderLaunched December 4, 1996; landed July 4, 1997 in Ares Vallis which was believed to be the

site of an ancient floodLanding site selection made using Viking orbiter imageryFirst rover; first to use airbags

Modern ExplorationPathfinder

Landing Site Locations

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

Pathfinder Landing Site

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

Lander Instruments Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP) Meteorological Station

Rover Instruments Three cameras, two stereo cameras in the front and a rear

color imaging system; cameras worked in tandem with a laser system to detect and avoid obstacles

Alpha-Proton-X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS); assess the composition of rocks and soils

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

Notable results from PathfinderMore than 16,500 images from the lander and 550

images from the roverMore than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and soil and

extensive data on winds and other weather factorsFindings from the investigations carried out by scientific

instruments on both the lander and the rover suggest that Mars was at one time in its past warm and wet, with water existing in its liquid state and a thicker atmosphere

Modern ExplorationMars Pathfinder

How did Pathfinder advance scientific understanding of Mars? Evidence on the ground for a warm, wet past

What technological advance(s) did Pathfinder carry? First rover; can be remotely operated New landing system