Mars Pathfinder at Facts About Mars

Mars Pathfinder

The Mars Pathfinder is part of NASA’s discovery program whose motto is “cheaper, faster and better” exploration programs. It consists of low cost spacecrafts and frequent launches. The mission cost one fifteenth of the cost of one of the viking missions.

The Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 and landed on an ancient flood plain in Mars called “Ares Vallis”. Scientists chose this location because of the variety of rocks present in the area which is believed to have been deposited by a catastrophic flood. The more rocks, the more specimens for experiment.

The lander was named “Carl Sagan Memorial Station” while the lander was called “Sojourner”, named after American Civil Rights Crusader, Sojourner Truth. The rover was remotely controlled but it can navigate through and around rocks by itself making it navigate the surface of the red planet even without human intervention.

THE MISSION

Study the atmosphere, climate and geology of the red planet.

Study the composition of rocks and soil on the red planet.

Study the mechanical properties of the surface as well as its magnetic properties.

Study the orbital dynamics of Mars.

Both the lander and rover successfully fulfilled their mission. They actually exceeded the missions timeline, the lander was able to provide over 16,500 images while the rover captured 550 images and more than 15 analyses of rocks and soil and a great amount of data on winds and other factors concerning the weather.

The lander reached the surface of Mars on July 4, 1997 and the final transmission was sent on September 27, 1997. NASA tried to re-establish contact with the pathfinder but eventually ended the mission on March 10, 1998.

EQUIPMENTS (Lander)

Imager – Used to provide surface and atmospheric images of Mars

Atmospheric and Meteorological Sensors (ASI/MET) – Observes the atmosphere and determines its temperature, humidity, wind speed and direction, pressure, atmospheric oxygen and sub surface soil temperatures.

EQUIPMENTS (Rover/Sojourner)

Cameras – Used to take pictures of Martian rocks and the surface.

Alpha Proton X-ray Spectrometers – Will be used to determine the elements present in Martian rocks and Soil.

Accelerometer

Potentiometers

MARS PICTURES

The Sojourner in action.

The twin peaks.

A photo of the Sojourner in action, as taken by the pathfinder lander.

The rock garden.

Another picture of a rock from the red planet.

A rock named “Yogi”, the second rock visited by Sojourner.

The success of the mission also proved that interplanetary missions need not be costly as it was before. The Mars Pathfinder Mission costs a total of $150 million, a very small amount as compared to the costs of the 2 viking missions that cost $935 million in 1994 or 3.5 billion in 1997.

Here’s a great 4 part video in tribute to the success of the Mars Pathfinder Mission. This is a must watch video that will not only educate you about the Mars Pathfinder, it will teach you the value of teamwork as well.

PART 1