Mars Observer
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.
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 UTC |
| Rocket | Commercial Titan III/TOS |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-40 |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | August 21, 1993, 01:00 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 |
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