Mars Exploring The Planets Mars


Launch Date
Name
Country
Result
1960
Oct. 10, 1960 Korabl 4 USSR Failed in Earth orbit
Oct. 14, 1960 Korabl 5 USSR Failed in Earth orbit
1962
Oct. 24, 1962 Korabl 11 USSR Failed to leave Earth orbit
Nov. 1, 1962 Mars 1 USSR Lost communications Mar. 21, 1963
Nov. 4, 1962 Korabl 13 USSR Failed in Earth orbit, reentered Nov. 5
1964
Nov. 5, 1964 Mariner 3 USA Launch failure, entered solar orbit
Nov. 28, 1964 Mariner 4 USA Reached Mars July 15, photographs and atmospheric measurements
Nov. 30, 1964 Zond 2 USSR Lost communications May 1965
1965
July 18, 1965 Zond 3 USSR Photographed Moon, reached Mars orbit
1969
Feb. 24, 1969 Mariner 6 USA Flyby July 31; successful mission
Mar. 27, 1969 Mariner 7 USA Flyby Aug. 5; successful mission
Mar. 27, 1969 none USSR Failed; believed launch failure
Apr. 14, 1969 none USA Failed
1971
May 8, 1971 Mariner 8 USA Failed to reach orbit
May 10, 1971 Kosmos 419 USSR Failed to leave Earth orbit; reentered May 10
May 19, 1971 Mars 2 USSR Orbited Mars; descent module crashed Nov. 27
May 28, 1971 Mars 3 USSR Orbited Mars; descent module failed upon landing Dec. 2
May 30, 1971 Mariner 9 USA Orbited Mars Nov. 13; successful mission
1973
July 21, 1973 Mars 4 USSR Failed to orbit, flew by Feb. 10
July 25, 1973 Mars 5 USSR Entered orbit of Mars Feb. 12; partially successful mission
Aug. 5, 1973 Mars 6 USSR Flyby; descent module communications failure just before landing Mar. 12
Aug. 9, 1973 Mars 7 USSR Failed, flew by Mar. 9

1975
Aug. 20, 1975 Viking 1 USA Orbited 1976 June 19; landed July 20
Sept. 5, 1975 Viking 2 USA Orbited 1976 Aug. 7; landed Sept. 3
1988
Aug. 5, 1988 Phobos 1 USSR Lost contact Aug. 31
Aug. 9, 1988 Phobos 2 USSR Orbited Mars 1989 Jan. 29; lost contact Mar. 27
1992
Sept. 25, 1992 Mars Observer USA Lost contact Aug. 21, 1993
1996
Nov. 7, 1996 Mars Global Surveyor USA Arrived Sept, 1997, Prime mission began March, 1999 and ended January, 2001. Still in operation.
Nov. 16, 1996 Mars 96 Russia Failed orbit insertion, fell to Earth Nov. 18.
Dec. 4, 1996 Mars Pathfinder USA Landed July 4, 1997, one year mission exceeded goals.
1998
Dec. 11, 1998 Mars Surveyor 98 - Mars Climate Orbiter USA Lost contact September, 1999.
1999
Jan. 3, 1999 Mars Surveyor 98 - Mars Polar Lander USA Lost contact December 3, 1999.

 

2001
April 7, 2001

2001 Mars Odyssey

 USA Entered Mars orbit October 24, 2001. Still in operation

 

2003
June 2, 2003 Mars Express ESA Orbiter currently monitoring Mars. Communication lost with Beagle lander.
June 10, 2003
July 7, 2003
 Mars Exploration Rovers USA Rover Spirit exploring Gusev Crater.
Rover Opportunity exploring Meridiani Planum.
       
       
       
       

Exploration of Mars