Mars Polar Lander Launch Photos

Mars Polar Lander Launch Photos

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander into a cloud-covered sky at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain at the polar cap. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998.
No copyright protection is asserted for this photography.
If a recognizable person appears in this photograph, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity.
It may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NASA employees of a commercial product, process or service, or used in any other manner that might mislead. Accordingly, it is requested that if this photograph is used in advertising and other commercial promotion, layout and copy be submitted to NASA prior to release.
PHOTO CREDIT: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration
Clicking on any of the thumbnail images below will bring up a higher resolution version of that image.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-1
High Resolution JPEG - 812K

After launch tower retraction, the Boeing Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Mars Polar lander waits for liftoff.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-2
High Resolution JPEG - 746K

After launch tower rollback, the Boeing Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Mars Polar lander awaits liftoff.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-3
High Resolution JPEG - 803K

A Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander into a cloud-covered sky at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-4
High Resolution JPEG - 1.4 MB

Amid clouds of exhaust and into a gray-clouded sky , a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-5
High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB

Amid clouds of exhaust, a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle with NASA's Mars Polar Lander clears Launch Complex 17B.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-6
High Resolution JPEG - 920K

Silhouetted against the gray sky, a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle with NASA's Mars Polar Lander lifts off from Launch Complex 17B.

Mars Polar Lander Launch
Photo Number: KSC-99PC-7
High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB

Looking like a Roman candle, the exhaust from the Boeing Delta II rocket with the Mars Polar Lander aboard lights up the clouds as it hurtles skyward.

Home Mars Polar Lander Deep Space 2 Microprobes Mars Climate Orbiter

Welcome Mailing List Links Credits

For questions or comments on this website please refer to our list of contacts.

Mars Polar Lander Launch Photos KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA. -- A Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander into a cloud-covered sky at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station. The lander is a solar-powered spacecraft designed to touch down on the Martian surface near the northern-most boundary of the south polar cap, which consists of carbon dioxide ice. The lander will study the polar water cycle, frosts, water vapor, condensates and dust in the Martian atmosphere. It is equipped with a robotic arm to dig beneath the layered terrain at the polar cap. In addition, Deep Space 2 microprobes, developed by NASA's New Millennium Program, are installed on the lander's cruise stage. After crashing into the planet's surface, they will conduct two days of soil and water experiments up to 1 meter (3 feet) below the Martian surface, testing new technologies for future planetary descent probes. The lander is the second spacecraft to be launched in a pair of Mars Surveyor '98 missions. The first is the Mars Climate Orbiter, which was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Launch Complex 17A on Dec. 11, 1998. No copyright protection is asserted for this photography. If a recognizable person appears in this photograph, use for commercial purposes may infringe a right of privacy or publicity. It may not be used to state or imply the endorsement by NASA employees of a commercial product, process or service, or used in any other manner that might mislead. Accordingly, it is requested that if this photograph is used in advertising and other commercial promotion, layout and copy be submitted to NASA prior to release. PHOTO CREDIT: NASA or National Aeronautics and Space Administration Clicking on any of the thumbnail images below will bring up a higher resolution version of that image.
Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-1 High Resolution JPEG - 812K After launch tower retraction, the Boeing Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Mars Polar lander waits for liftoff.	Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-2 High Resolution JPEG - 746K After launch tower rollback, the Boeing Delta II rocket carrying NASA's Mars Polar lander awaits liftoff.
Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-3 High Resolution JPEG - 803K A Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander into a cloud-covered sky at 3:21:10 p.m. EST from Launch Complex 17B, Cape Canaveral Air Station.	Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-4 High Resolution JPEG - 1.4 MB Amid clouds of exhaust and into a gray-clouded sky , a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle lifts off with NASA's Mars Polar Lander.
Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-5 High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB Amid clouds of exhaust, a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle with NASA's Mars Polar Lander clears Launch Complex 17B.	Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-6 High Resolution JPEG - 920K Silhouetted against the gray sky, a Boeing Delta II expendable launch vehicle with NASA's Mars Polar Lander lifts off from Launch Complex 17B.
Mars Polar Lander Launch Photo Number: KSC-99PC-7 High Resolution JPEG - 1.1 MB Looking like a Roman candle, the exhaust from the Boeing Delta II rocket with the Mars Polar Lander aboard lights up the clouds as it hurtles skyward.

Home	Mars Polar Lander	Deep Space 2 Microprobes	Mars Climate Orbiter
Welcome	Mailing List	Links	Credits