Mars Polar Lander
Fact Sheet
- Mission
"Volatiles and Climate History"
- Launch
The lander was launched from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station (CCAFS) Space Launch Complex 17 (SLC-17) on January 3, 1999.
- Launch Vehicle
Boeing Delta II 7425. The upper stage consists of a spin stabilized Star 48 with a Nutation Control System and a yo-yo despin device.
- Spacecraft Dimensions
1.06 meters (3.5 feet) tall by 3.6 meters (12 feet) wide.
- Spacecraft Weight
Total: 576 kg (1,270 pounds)
Lander: 290 kg (639 pounds)
Propellant: 64 kg (141 pounds)
Cruise Stage: 82 kg (181 pounds)
Aeroshell & Heat Shield: 140 kg (309 pounds)
- Science Instruments
- Deep Space 2 Microprobes
- Mars Volatiles and Climate Surveyor (MVACS), consisting of surface imager, robotic arm, meteorology package, and thermal and evolved gas analyzer.
- Mars Descent Imager (MARDI)
- Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) and Mars Microphone
- Spacecraft Power
Solar panels providing 200 watts on the Mars' surface.
- Mission Timeline
- January 3, 1999: Launch
- December 3, 1999: Mars Landing
- March 1, 2000: End Of Primary Mission
- Project Cost
$110 million for spacecraft development, $10 million mission operations; total $120 million (not includding launch vehicle or Deep Space 2 microprobes).
- Miscellaneous
A CDROM with over 932,000 names is carried on the lander.
- Mission Logo
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