Space News
space history and artifacts articles

Messages
space history discussion forums

Sightings
worldwide astronaut appearances

Resources
selected space history documents

  collectSPACE: Messages
  Stamps & Covers
  Space Cover 313: Mars Observer disappears

Post New Topic  Post A Reply
profile | register | preferences | faq | search

next newest topic | next oldest topic
Author Topic:   Space Cover 313: Mars Observer disappears
Bob M
Member

Posts: 1744
From: Atlanta-area, GA USA
Registered: Aug 2000

posted 04-19-2015 10:49 AM     Click Here to See the Profile for Bob M   Click Here to Email Bob M     Edit/Delete Message   Reply w/Quote
Space Cover of the Week, Week 313 (April 19, 2015)

Space Cover #313: Mars Observer Spacecraft Disappears

The history of unmanned spacecraft exploration of planet Mars is filled with many disappointing failures, with NASA's and, especially, the Soviet Union's attempts to orbit and land spacecraft there. But there have been many spectacular successes, including both Viking 1 and Viking 2 landings on Mars in 1976, which would be included as two of NASA's greatest achievements.

However, in the failure category is the mission of Mars Observer.

Mars Observer was originally planned to be launched on the space shuttle, but the loss of Challenger in 1986 resulted in it being launched instead on a Titan III rocket. Originally budgeted to cost $212 million, it wound up costing a massive $813 million.

Mars Observer was launched on September 25, 1992 and contact with it was lost on August 22, 1993, just before achieving Mars orbit, scheduled for August 24. The two covers above have cancels from Pasadena, CA, home of JPL mission control, on the date of the scheduled Mars orbit insertion.

Unfortunately, no telemetry was received to help in determining the cause of the loss, but speculation concluded that a small propulsion leak had caused an explosion that threw the spacecraft out of control.

Following the loss of the Mars Observer, NASA has carried out a number of highly successful Mars missions, with the disappointment of Mars Observer largely overshadowed.

All times are CT (US)

next newest topic | next oldest topic

Administrative Options: Close Topic | Archive/Move | Delete Topic
Post New Topic  Post A Reply
Hop to:

Contact Us | The Source for Space History & Artifacts

Copyright 2020 collectSPACE.com All rights reserved.


Ultimate Bulletin Board 5.47a





advertisement