Mars Pathfinder

A mission patch for the Mars Pathfinder mission in 1996.

Overview

This NASA mission was launched on a Delta II rocket on December 4, 1996. The Mars Pathfinder mission was used to demonstrate how NASA could send an exploratory mission to Mars 1/15th of the cost of the Viking budget in the 1970's. The mission was developed at a cost of under $150 million in 3 years.

One of the major mission objectives was to deliver a microrover to the surface safely so the surface composition and, ultimately, the search for life could be carried out. The microrover onbord was known as Sojourner.

External Links

• Mars Pathfinder web site - Main entry, links to:
  • Web Site at the Time of Landing
  • Web Site at the End of the Mission
  • Web Site CD-ROM Directory

• Mars Pathfinder Mission Objectives