Page 69 - (DK) Eyewitness - Mars

1971–1974 SOVIET
DISAPPOINTMENTS
Soviets launch seven more Mars missions,
but none is fully successful.

1 VIKING LANDERS
Viking 1 makes the first successful Mars
landing, followed by Viking 2.
1 MORE DISAPPOINTMENTS
The Soviets’ Phobos 1 and 2 fail to
operate properly.

1 2 U.S.’S OBSERVER FAILS Artist’s concept of Mars Express
Viking spacecraft with solar panels and the U.S.’s Mars Observer is lost. in orbit around Mars
metal capsule which contains the lander
1 SURVEYOR AND PATHFINDER 2003 EXPLORATION ROVERS
1 0 MARSNIK FAILS U.S. launches Global Surveyor. Russia’s Mars U.S. launches two Mars Exploration Rover
Soviet Union launches the probe Marsnik 1 96 orbiter and lander fails. U.S. launches spacecraft. On August 27, at 9:46 a.m. GMT,
to fly by Mars. It is the first of eight Pathfinder, carrying the first rover. Mars and Earth are the nearest in 59,619
unsuccessful Soviet attempts to reach Mars years—34.6 million miles (55.8 million km)
in the 1960s. 1 UNMATCHED SUCCESS apart. The European Space Agency launches
Pathfinder lands on Mars, and Global Mars Express, which carries a lander.
1964 MARINER 4 SUCCEEDS Surveyor goes into orbit, both triumphs.
U.S. launches Mariner 3 to fly by Mars, but it 2004 TRIUMPH AND LOSS
fails. Mariner 4 becomes the first spacecraft 1 JAPAN SENDS FIRST MISSION The Mars Exploration Rovers are successful.
to fly by Mars, which is shown to be dry and Japanese launch Nozomi, but the mission Mars Express lander is lost, although orbiter
pocked by craters.
fails. U.S.’s Mars Climate Orbiter also fails.
1 MARINERS FLY BY 1 ANOTHER FAILURE
Mariners 6 and 7 launch and fly successfully U.S.’s Mars Polar Lander fails.
past Mars.
2001 ODYSSEY MAPS MARS
1 1 FIRST TO ORBIT U.S. launches 2001 Mars Odyssey, which
Mariner 8 fails, but Mariner 9 becomes orbits and maps the planet.
the first American spacecraft to orbit
another planet.
Illustration of the Mars Exploration Rover
Mars rock named “Humphrey,” with a hole
drilled by Spirit Rover.