Mars Climate Orbiter Mars Fall

1999/10/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Astronautika

In December 1998, the Mars Climate Orbiter probe was launched into space to study the climate of Mars. Nine months later, on September 23, he began maneuvers to enter the orbit of Mars. As the planning required, the main engine went on five minutes before being hidden behind the planet. Then contact with Earth was lost. However, when I had to leave the back of the planet, communication was not recovered.

The controllers have recognized that the orbital was well below the theoretical approach height. It is believed that the probe has fallen on the surface of Mars. It is not the first time a probe is lost in the study projects of the red planet. In 1993 the Mars Observer was lost. NASA scientists will go ahead with the Mars Surveyor Program without plan changes.