Mars Pathfinder

Bill Hewins

Mission Objective: Technological Capability

• Low cost landings on and exploration of Martian surface

• Characterize the Martian environment for further exploration

Mission Objective: Technological Capability

• Deliver an instrumented lander and free ranging rover to surface of Mars

• New method of landing on surface

Drop, Bounce & Roll

Pathfinder landing site

Success or Failure?

• Lander sent back 16,500 images

• Rover sent back 550 images

• 16 chemical analyses of rocks and soil

• 8.5 million measurements of atmospheric pressure, temerature and wind

What’s next?

Between the next 10 to 1000 years

Within the next few years

Questions?

Sources

• http://www.cnn.com

• http://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov

• http://www.solarviews.com

• http://www.marstraveller.cjb.net

• http://www.jpl.nasa.gov