A Comprehensive Overview of Mars Missions: Satellites and Landers

Since the early 20th century, humanity has been captivated by the red planet, Mars. As of June 2018, two rovers have been successfully operating on the Martian surface, capturing our imagination and expanding our understanding of this intriguing world. This article delves into the successful orbiters and landers that have been sent from Earth to Mars over the years, showcasing both the significant achievements and the technical challenges of Mars exploration.

Successful Orbiter Missions

The orbiters sent to Mars have been instrumental in providing the planet with detailed, up-to-date imagery and scientific data. As of 2018, six orbiters were actively surveying Mars:

Mars Odyssey - Operated by NASA, Mars Odyssey has been in orbit since 2001 and continues to provide valuable data on Martian geology and climate. Mars Express - Operated by the European Space Agency (ESA), Mars Express has been providing high-resolution imagery and spectroscopic data since 2003. Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) - NASA's MRO, which has been operating in orbit since 2006, provides ultra-high-resolution images and conducts detailed atmospheric studies. Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan) - Launched by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Mangalyaan has been orbiting Mars since 2014, contributing to the understanding of Martian atmospheric conditions. Mission to Mars (MAVEN) - Operated by NASA, MAVEN, which launched in 2013, studies the Martian atmosphere's composition and history. ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter - Another European Space Agency mission, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter, launched in 2016 and is dedicated to studying trace gases in the Martian atmosphere.

Successful Lander Missions

Much like the orbiters, the landers sent to Mars have played a crucial role in exploring the planet's surface. As of November 2018, eight landers have successfully landed on Mars:

Viking 1 and Viking 2 - NASA's Viking 1 and 2 landers made landfall in 1976 and provided the first surface samples and images of Mars. Mars Pathfinder - NASA's Pathfinder mission landed in 1997, carrying the Sojourner rover which became the first vehicle to explore Mars. Spirit and Opportunity Rovers - NASA's MER-1 and MER-2 rovers, Spirit and Opportunity, landed in 2004 and collectively traveled over 28 miles on the Martian surface, the longest-lasting rovers on Mars. Pheonix Mars Lander - NASA's Phoenix Lander successfully landed in 2008, focused on studying the Martian arctic and searching for water ice. Curiosity Rover - NASA's Curiosity rover, which landed in 2012, continues to explore the Martian surface, providing insights into the planet's history and potential habitability. InSight - NASA's InSight lander, which arrived in 2018, is dedicated to studying the Martian interior and seismic activity.

Unsuccessful Missions

While many missions have been successful, numerous attempts to explore Mars have ended in failure. Some notable unsuccessful missions include:

Mars 2, 3, 6 (USSR/Russia) - Various Soviet and Russian missions that failed to land successfully. Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 (USSR/Russia) - Failed due to a software error in December 1999. Mars Climate Orbiter (USSR/Russia) - Orbiter failed to enter the Martian orbit due to a unit conversion error. Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2 (NASA) - Both missions were intended to land at the southern polar region but failed to deploy their legs, resulting in their destruction upon impact. Mars Climate Orbiter (NASA) - Lost during Mars orbit insertion due to a mismatch in units. Fobos-Grunt (Russia) - A sample return mission to Phobos, but the spacecraft failed to leave Earth orbit and eventually crashed back to Earth in 2012.

Current Active Missions

To date, the only active landers are Curiosity and InSight. These long-lasting missions continue to provide invaluable data about Mars:

Curiosity - The longest-lasting rover on Mars, Curiosity has provided extensive data on the planet's geology and climate. InSight - This lander is still active and plays a crucial role in studying Mars' seismic activity and interior composition.

Conclusion

The exploration of Mars continues to be a significant area of space research, fueled by both private and government-backed missions. The orbiters and landers that have been sent to Mars provide a wealth of scientific data, contributing to our understanding of the planet's history, geology, and potential habitability. While challenges persist, the successes of these missions continue to inspire further exploration and discovery.