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Successful NASA Missions to Mars

AstronomyExplorationScience
More on Mars►
Perseverance and Ingenuity►
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Mission Year Arrived Accomplishments
Mars 2020 (Perseverance and Ingenuity)Perseverance and Ingenuity 2021 The Mars 2020 mission was designed to take and analyze rock and soil samples, especially looking for signs of ancient microbial life. It includes the rover Perseverance and the first helicopter drone on another planet, Ingenuity. The helicopter is especially notable since the air on Mars is so much thinner than the air on Earth.
InSightInSight, Mars lander 2018 The “INterior exploration using Seismic Investigations, Geodesy and Heat Transport” (InSight) is a lander that’s been on Mars since 2018. InSight has been studying Mars’s seismic activity and geological geography (including looking at how it changed over time, and creating a model of the planet’s terrain).
MAVENMAVEN, Mars orbiter 2014 Mars Atmosphere and Volatile EvolutioN (or MAVEN) is a spacecraft that’s orbiting Mars. Its mission is to study the Martian atmosphere and ionosphere. It’s been in orbit since 2014. MAVEN observed such things as climatic events, auroras, and a close-by comet. It examined the evaporation of water on Mars and the effect of solar storms on the Martian atmosphere. The latter might explain how, over billions of years, Mars might have gone from being a warm planet to a frozen one. An observed solar storm seems to have doubled the radiation levels on Mars (at least for a brief period, which coincided with a huge aurora).
Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity)Curiosity, rover on Mars 2012 The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) is a space probe that contained the rover Curiosity. The rover landed on the surface of Mars and—as of 2021—has been operational since 2012. The MSL sought to learn more about Martian geology and climate, including studying the presence of water. Curiosity helped determine these things as it explored the area around the Gale crater. It discovered that Mars could very well have had microbial life in its ancient history.
DawnDawn spacecraft flying by Mars 2009 This spacecraft wasn’t actually headed to Mars–it was going to the asteroid Vesta and dwarf planet Ceres, in the asteroid belt! But on the way it had a flyby of Mars (using gravity assist) in 2009. Dawn ended up getting to the asteroid belt in 2011, and its survey mission ended in 2018.
PhoenixThe Phoenix lander 2008 Phoenix was a space probe that helped explore Mars. It landed on Mars and studied the planet from May to November, 2008. Phoenix landed on Mars’s polar surface (a first) and officially confirmed that there’s ice on Mars! This is important, as the presence of water indicates that there might once have been life there.
Mars Reconnaissance OrbiterMars Reconnaissance Orbiter 2006 The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) spacecraft has been orbiting Mars since 2006. As of 2021, this orbiter has been studying Mars’s climate and geology (even though its initial mission was only supposed to last through 2010). The MRO confirmed ice scattered around craters, might have observed flowing subsurface salty water, and learned more about the Martian north polar ice cap. The MRO also serves as a data-relay between rovers on Mars’s surface and NASA back on Earth.
Spirit and OpportunityThe rover Spirit 2004 Twin rovers which landed at roughly the same time at opposite sides of Mars. Opportunity studied Mars 2004-2018 (Spirit was 2004-2010). “Oppy” was the little rover that could: it ran off solar power and remained functional for 14 more years than originally planned! The rovers studied the rocks on Mars, found extra-Martian meteorites, and discovered more clues about the water that was once on Mars.
Mars OdysseyMars Odyssey 2001 Orbiter: mapping, search for water.
Mars PathfinderMars Pathfinder 1997 Lander: This was the first bouncing landing (“airbag-mediated”). Pathfinder had a roving vehicle called Sojourner which performed extensive rock analysis.
Mars Global SurveyorMars Global Surveyor logo 1997 Orbiter: examined surface features, atmosphere, and magnetic properties.
Viking 1 and 2View of Mars from Viking 2 1976 Lander: surface photos, soil biochemistry investigated.
Orbiter: global mapping from orbit.
Mariner 9Mariner 9 1971 FIRST ORBITER around another planet; mapping, photography, and atmospheric observations
Mariner 6 and 7Mariner 6 1969 Fly-by missions: atmosphere determined to be mostly CO2.
Mariner 4Mariner 4 1965 FIRST MARS FLY-BY: photos transmitted.
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General Info
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The Planets
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