Transcript Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  “NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission – the first spacecraft to land on Mars in more than 20 years and.

Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 “NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission – the first spacecraft to
land on Mars in more than 20 years and the first ever to
send a rover out to independently explore the Martian
landscape – is set for touchdown July 4, initiating a new
era of scientific exploration that will lead eventually to
human expeditions to the red planet.”
Mars Pathfinder Landing Press Kit, July 1997
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 The primary mission objectives were to demonstrate the
feasibility of low-cost landings on, and exploration of, the
Martian surface (Faster, Better, Cheaper)
 Scientific objectives included
 atmospheric entry science
 long-range and close-up surface imaging
 the general objective was to characterize the Martian environment
for further exploration
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 Launched December 4, 1996; landed July 4, 1997 in Ares
Vallis which was believed to be the site of an ancient flood
 Landing site selection made using Viking orbiter imagery
 First rover; first to use airbags
Modern Exploration
Pathfinder
 Landing Site Locations
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 Pathfinder Landing Site
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 Lander Instruments
 Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP)
 Meteorological Station
 Rover Instruments
 Three cameras, two stereo cameras in the front and a rear
color imaging system; cameras worked in tandem with a
laser system to detect and avoid obstacles
 Alpha-Proton-X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS); assess the
composition of rocks and soils
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 Notable results from Pathfinder
 More than 16,500 images from the lander and 550
images from the rover
 More than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and soil and
extensive data on winds and other weather factors
 Findings from the investigations carried out by scientific
instruments on both the lander and the rover suggest
that Mars was at one time in its past warm and wet, with
water existing in its liquid state and a thicker
atmosphere
Modern Exploration
Mars Pathfinder
 How did Pathfinder advance scientific understanding of
Mars?
 Evidence on the ground for a warm, wet past
 What technological advance(s) did Pathfinder carry?
 First rover; can be remotely operated
 New landing system