Mars Climate Orbiter facts for kids
Artist's conception of the Mars Climate Orbiter
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| Mission type | Mars orbiter |
|---|---|
| Operator | NASA / JPL |
| Mission duration | 286 days Mission failure |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Manufacturer | Lockheed Martin |
| Launch mass | 338 kilograms (745 lb) |
| Power | 500 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | 11 December 1998, 18:45:51 UTC |
| Rocket | Delta II 7425 |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral SLC-17A |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | 23 September 1999 09:06:00 UTC |
| Decay date | 23 September 1999 Unintentionally deorbited |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Areocentric |
| Epoch | Planned |
The Mars Climate Orbiter was a space probe. It was launched by NASA on 11 December 1998 to study the Martian climate and Martian atmosphere. However, on 23 September 1999, communication with the spacecraft was lost, when the spacecraft was about to enter orbit. Because the computer software was working with non-SI units instead of the SI units. The spacecraft entered Mars on an orbit that brought it too close to the planet. However, what happened with the probe is still unknown, either it was destroyed in the atmosphere or entered in an orbit around the Sun after leaving the Martian atmosphere.
Related pages
Images for kids
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PMIRR diagram
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MARCI
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MARCI diagram
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Exploded diagram of Delta II launch vehicle with Mars Climate Orbiter
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Launch of Mars Climate Orbiter by NASA on a Delta II 7425 launch vehicle
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Interplanetary trajectory of Mars Climate Orbiter
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Aerobraking procedure to place Mars Climate Orbiter into orbit around Mars
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This image of Mars on September 7, 1999 is the only image acquired by the Orbiter.
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Diagram comparing the intended and actual trajectories of the Orbiter
See also
In Spanish: Mars Climate Orbiter para niños
