Computer-generated image of one of the two Mars Exploration Rovers which touched down on Mars in 2004. NASA 's Mars Exploration Rover ( MER) Mission is an ongoing robotic mission of exploring Mars, that began in 2003 with the sending of

The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the space exploration programs of the Soviet Union (later Russia), the United States, Europe, and Japan. History First orbital flights The first successful orbital launch was of the Soviet unmanned Sputnik The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending The United States of America —commonly referred to as the For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Japan topics. Dozens of robotic spacecraft, including orbiters, landers, and rovers, have been launched toward Mars since the 1960s. A robotic spacecraft is a Spacecraft with no humans on board that is usually under Telerobotic control For other meanings see Orbiter (disambiguation. An orbiter is a Space probe that Orbits a Planet or Natural A lander is a Spacecraft which descends toward and comes to rest on the surface of an Astronomical body. A rover is a Space exploration vehicle designed to move across the surface of a Planet or other Astronomical body. These missions were aimed at gathering data about current conditions and answering questions about the history of Mars. The questions raised by the scientific community are expected to not only give a better appreciation of the red planet but also yield further insight into the past, and possible future of Earth. EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001

The exploration of Mars has come at a considerable financial cost with roughly two-thirds of all spacecraft destined for Mars failing before completing their missions, with some failing before they even begin. Such a high failure rate can be attributed to the complexity and large number of variables involved in an interplanetary journey, and has led researchers to jokingly speak of The Great Galactic Ghoul ^[1] which subsists on a diet of Mars probes. This phenomenon is also informally known as the Mars Curse. ^[2] As of 2008, there are three functioning pieces of equipment on the surface of Mars beaming signals back to Earth: the Spirit rover, the Opportunity rover, and the Phoenix lander. MER-A ( Mars Exploration Rover - A) known as Spirit, is the first of the two rovers of NASA 's Mars Exploration Rover MER-B ( Mars Exploration Rover - B) known as Opportunity, is the second of the two rovers of NASA 's Mars Exploration Phoenix is a Robotic spacecraft on a Space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program.

The planet Mars

Mars has long been the subject of human fascination. Early telescopic observations revealed color changes on the surface which were originally attributed to seasonal vegetation as well as linear features which were ascribed to intelligent design. These early and erroneous interpretations led to widespread public interest in Mars. Further telescopic observations found Mars' two moons - Phobos and Deimos, dry channels and depressions, polar ice caps, Olympus Mons, the solar system's tallest mountain, and Valles Marineris, the solar system's largest canyon system. Olympus Mons ( Latin for "Mount Olympus" is the highest known Volcano and Mountain in the Solar System. Valles Marineris ( Latin for Mariner Valleys, named after the Mariner 9 Mars orbiter These discoveries have only piqued further interest in the study and exploration of the red planet. Mars is a rocky planet, like Earth, that formed around the same time, yet with only half the diameter of Earth, and a far thinner atmosphere, it has a cold and desert-like surface. (It is notable, however, that although the planet has only one quarter of the surface area of the Earth, it has about the same land area, since only one quarter of the surface area of the Earth is land).

Launch windows

In order to understand the history of the robotic exploration of Mars it is important to note that minimum-energy launch windows occur at intervals of 2. Launch window is a term used in Aerospace to describe a time period in which a particular Rocket must be launched 135 years, i. e. 780 days (the planet's synodic period) with respect to Earth. The orbital period is the time taken for a given object to make one complete Orbit about another object This is a consequence of the Hohmann transfer orbit for minimum-energy interplanetary transfer. In Astronautics and Aerospace engineering, the Hohmann transfer orbit is an Orbital maneuver using two engine impulses which under standard assumptions Launch windows were / will be in:

• November to December 1996
• December 1998 to January 1999
• April 2001
• June to July 2003
• August 2005
• October 2007
• December 2009
• February 2012

Like the outbound launch windows, minimum energy inbound (Mars to Earth) launch windows also occur at intervals of 780 (Earth) days.

In addition to these minimum-energy trajectories, which occur when the planets are aligned so that the Earth to Mars transfer trajectory goes halfway around the sun, an alternate trajectory which has been proposed goes first inward toward Venus orbit, and then outward, resulting in a longer trajectory which goes about 360 degrees around the sun ("opposition-class trajectory"). The VENUS ( V ictoria E xperimental N etwork U nder the S ea project is a cabled sea floor observatory operated by the University Although this transfer orbit takes longer, and also requires more energy, it is sometimes proposed as a mission trajectory for human missions.

Early flyby probes and orbiters

Early Soviet missions

Main article: Marsnik program

Marsnik spacecraft

The Marsnik program, was the first Soviet unmanned spacecraft interplanetary exploration program, which consisted of two flyby probes launched towards Mars in October 1960, Marsnik 1 and 2 dubbed Mars 1960A and Mars 1960B (also known as Korabl 4 and Korabl 5 respectively). The Marsnik program of Unmanned spacecraft were the Soviet Union 's first attempt at interplanetary exploration The Marsnik program of Unmanned spacecraft were the Soviet Union 's first attempt at interplanetary exploration The Marsnik program of Unmanned spacecraft were the Soviet Union 's first attempt at interplanetary exploration The Marsnik program of Unmanned spacecraft were the Soviet Union 's first attempt at interplanetary exploration After launch, the third stage pumps on both Marsnik launchers were unable to develop enough thrust to commence ignition, so Earth parking orbit was not achieved. The spacecraft reached an altitude of 120 km before reentry.

Mars 1962A a Mars fly-by mission, launched on October 24, 1962 and Mars 1962B a lander mission, launched in late December of the same year both failed from either breaking up as they were going into Earth orbit or having the upper stage explode in orbit during the burn to put the spacecraft into the Mars trajectory. Sputnik 22 (also known as Korabl 11 and Mars 1962A) was an attempted Mars flyby mission launched on October 24, 1962. Sputnik 24 (also known as Beta Xi 1, Korabl 13, and Mars 1962B) was an attempted Mars lander mission

Mars 1 (1962 Beta Nu 1) an automatic interplanetary station launched to Mars on November 1, 1962 was the first probe of the Soviet Mars probe program. Mars 1 (1962 Beta Nu 1 was an automatic interplanetary station launched in the direction of Mars on November 1, 1962, the first of the Soviet This article is for the Russian (Soviet series of space probes for the moon designated as Mars II see Deimos (moon; for all missions to Mars see Exploration Mars 1 was intended to fly by the planet at a distance of about 11,000 km and take images of the surface as well as send back data on cosmic radiation, micrometeoroid impacts and Mars' magnetic field, radiation environment, atmospheric structure, and possible organic compounds. A Micrometeoroid (also micrometeorite, micrometeor) is a tiny Meteoroid; a small particle of rock in space usually weighing less than a Gram In Physics, a magnetic field is a Vector field that permeates space and which can exert a magnetic force on moving Electric charges Sixty-one radio transmissions were held, initially at two day intervals and later at 5 days in which a large amount of interplanetary data was collected. On 21 March 1963, when the spacecraft was at a distance of 106,760,000 km from Earth, on its way to Mars, communications ceased, due to failure of the spacecraft's antenna orientation system.

In 1964, both Soviet probe launches, of Zond 1964A on June 4, and Zond 2 on November 30, (part of the Zond program), resulted in failures. Zond 2, a member of the Soviet Zond program, was the fifth Soviet spacecraft to attempt a flyby of Mars Zond ( Зонд; meaning "probe" was the name given to two series of Soviet Unmanned space missions undertaken from 1964 to 1970 to gather information Zond 1964A had a failure at launch, while communication was lost with Zond 2 en route to Mars after a mid-course maneuver, in early May 1965.

Mariner program

Main article: Mariner program

Taken from Mariner 4, the first close-up image ever taken of Mars shows an area about 330 km across by 1200 km from limb to bottom of frame. The Mariner program was a program conducted by the American space agency NASA that launched a series of robotic interplanetary probes

In 1964, NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory made two attempts at reaching Mars. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration ( NASA, ˈnæsə is an agency of the United States government, responsible for the nation's public space program Mariner 3 and Mariner 4 were identical spacecraft designed to carry out the first flybys of Mars. Mariner 3 and 4 were identical spacecraft of the Mariner program designed to carry out the first flybys of Mars and obtain photographs of the planet's Mariner 4 (Mariner-Mars 1964 was the fourth in a series of spacecraft intended for planetary exploration in a flyby mode and performed the first successful Mariner 3 was launched on November 5, 1964, but the shroud encasing the spacecraft atop its rocket failed to open properly, and it failed to reach Mars. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Three weeks later, on November 28, 1964, Mariner 4 was launched successfully on an 7½-month voyage to the red planet. For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar.

Mariner 4 flew past Mars on July 14, 1965, providing the first close-up photographs of another planet. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. The pictures, gradually played back to Earth from a small tape recorder on the probe, showed lunar-type impact craters.

NASA continued the Mariner program with another pair of Mars flyby probes, Mariner 6 and 7, at the next launch window. As part of the wider Mariner program, in 1969 Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 ( Mariner Mars 69A / 69B completed the first dual mission to Mars, flying over the These probes reached the planet in 1969. During the following launch window the Mariner program again suffered the loss of one of a pair of probes. Mariner 9 successfully entered orbit about Mars, the first spacecraft ever to do so, after the launch time failure of its sister ship, Mariner 8. Mariner 9 (Mariner Mars '71 / Mariner-I was a NASA space probe orbiter that helped in the exploration of Mars and was part of the Mariner program. Mariner-H, also commonly known as Mariner 8, was (along with Mariner 9) part of the Mariner Mars 71 project When Mariner 9 reached Mars, it and two Soviet orbiters (Mars 2 and Mars 3, see Mars probe program below) found that a planet-wide dust storm was in progress. The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned Landers and Orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s. The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned Landers and Orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s. The mission controllers used the time spent waiting for the storm to clear to have the probe rendezvous with, and photograph, Phobos. When the storm cleared sufficiently for Mars' surface to be photographed by Mariner 9, the pictures returned represented a substantial advance over previous missions. These pictures were the first to offer evidence that liquid water might at one time have flowed on the planetary surface.

Surface missions

Main article: Mars landing

The following is a map of landings on Mars. A Mars landing is when a Spacecraft lands on the surface of Mars.

The first image transmitted by the Viking 1 Lander from the surface of Mars, showing the craft's footpad. MER-A ( Mars Exploration Rover - A) known as Spirit, is the first of the two rovers of NASA 's Mars Exploration Rover MER-B ( Mars Exploration Rover - B) known as Opportunity, is the second of the two rovers of NASA 's Mars Exploration The Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II just a month after the Mars Global Surveyor Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA 's Viking program, and holds the record for the longest Mars surface mission The Viking 2 mission was part of the Viking program to Mars, and consisted of an orbiter and a lander essentially identical to that of the Viking 1 Phoenix is a Robotic spacecraft on a Space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program.

The first probes landed on Mars were by the Soviet Union's Mars 2 and Mars 3, as part of the Mars probe program. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned Landers and Orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s. The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned Landers and Orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s. This article is for the Russian (Soviet series of space probes for the moon designated as Mars II see Deimos (moon; for all missions to Mars see Exploration The Mars 2 and 3 probes each carried a lander, both of which failed upon landing. However, the Mars 3 lander was able to send the first image from the surface of Mars. These also contained the first Mars rovers, although both were broken on landing.

The first successful American landers were Viking 1 & 2

Mars Curse

The high failure rate of missions launched from Earth attempting to explore Mars has become informally known as the Mars Curse. Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA 's Viking program, and holds the record for the longest Mars surface mission The Viking 2 mission was part of the Viking program to Mars, and consisted of an orbiter and a lander essentially identical to that of the Viking 1 The exploration of Mars has been an important part of the Space exploration programs of the Soviet Union (later Russia) the United Some suggest, entirely in jest, that there is some supernatural force trying to prevent or punish the exploration of Mars. The term supernatural or supranatural ( Latin: super, supra "above" + natura "nature" pertains to entities events The Galactic Ghoul is a fictional space monster that consumes Mars probes, a term coined in 1997 by Time Magazine journalist Donald Neff. A robotic spacecraft is a Spacecraft with no humans on board that is usually under Telerobotic control Time (trademarked in capitals as TIME) is a weekly American Newsmagazine, similar to Newsweek and Donald Neff has been a journalist for forty years He spent 16 years in service for Time Magazine, and is aformer Time Magazine Bureau Chief in Israel. ^[3][4][5]

As of the end of 2006, of 37 launches from Earth in an attempt to reach the planet, only 18 succeeded, a success rate of 49%. Eleven of the missions included attempts to land on the surface, but only six transmitted data after landing.

The U. S. NASA Mars exploration program has had a somewhat better record of success in Mars exploration, achieving success in 12 out of 17 missions launched (a 71% success rate), and succeeding in five out of six (a 83% success rate) of the launches of Mars landers.

Manned missions

Main article: Manned mission to Mars

Many people have long advocated a manned mission to Mars as the next logical step for a manned space program after lunar exploration. A human mission to visit and land on the planet Mars has long been a subject for Science fiction writers and a dream of Space exploration advocates Aside from the prestige such a mission would bring, advocates argue that humans would easily be able to outperform robotic explorers, justifying the expenses. Critics contend, however, that robots can perform better than humans at a fraction of the expense.

Timeline of Mars exploration

Mission	Launch	Arrival at Mars	Termination	Objective	Result
Marsnik 1 (Mars 1960A)	10 October 1960		10 October 1960	Flyby	Launch failure
Marsnik 2 (Mars 1960B)	14 October 1960		14 October 1960	Flyby	Launch failure
Sputnik 22 (Mars 1962A)	24 October 1962		24 October 1962	Flyby	Broke up shortly after launch
Mars 1	1 November 1962		21 March 1963	Flyby	Some data collected, but lost contact before reaching Mars
Sputnik 24 (Mars 1962B)	4 November 1962		19 January 1963	Lander	Failed to leave Earth's orbit
Zond 1964A	4 June 1964		4 June 1964	Flyby	Launch Failure
Mariner 3	5 November 1964		5 November 1964	Flyby	Failure during launch ruined trajectory. The Marsnik program of Unmanned spacecraft were the Soviet Union 's first attempt at interplanetary exploration Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 680 - Battle of Karbala: Shia Imam Husayn bin Ali, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad, is decapitated Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Marsnik program of Unmanned spacecraft were the Soviet Union 's first attempt at interplanetary exploration Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1066 - Norman Conquest: Battle of Hastings - In England on Senlac Hill seven miles from Hastings, the forces Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sputnik 22 (also known as Korabl 11 and Mars 1962A) was an attempted Mars flyby mission launched on October 24, 1962. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mars 1 (1962 Beta Nu 1 was an automatic interplanetary station launched in the direction of Mars on November 1, 1962, the first of the Soviet Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 630 - Byzantine emperor Heraclius restores the True Cross to Jerusalem. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sputnik 24 (also known as Beta Xi 1, Korabl 13, and Mars 1962B) was an attempted Mars lander mission Events 1333 - Flood of the Arno River, causing massive damage in Florence as recorded by the Florentine chronicler Giovanni Villani Year 1962 ( MCMLXII) was a Common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1419 - Hundred Years' War: Rouen surrenders to Henry V of England completing his reconquest of Normandy. Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Zond ( Зонд; meaning "probe" was the name given to two series of Soviet Unmanned space missions undertaken from 1964 to 1970 to gather information Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 781 BC - The first historic Solar eclipse is recorded in China. Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Mariner 3 and 4 were identical spacecraft of the Mariner program designed to carry out the first flybys of Mars and obtain photographs of the planet's Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Currently in solar orbit.
Mariner 4	28 November 1964	14 July 1965	21 December 1967	Flyby	Success (first successful flyby)
Zond 2	30 November 1964		May 1965	Flyby	Lost contact
Mariner 6	25 February 1969	31 July 1969	August 1969	Flyby	Success
Mariner 7	27 March 1969	5 August 1969	August 1969	Flyby	Success
Mars 1969A	27 March 1969		27 March 1969	Orbiter	Launch failure
Mars 1969B	2 April 1969		2 April 1969	Orbiter	Launch failure
Mission (1970-1989)	Launch	Arrival at Mars	Termination	Objective	Result
Mariner 8	8 May 1971		8 May 1971	Orbiter	Launch failure
Cosmos 419	10 May 1971		12 May 1971	Orbiter	Launch failure
Mariner 9	30 May 1971	13 November 1971	27 October 1972	Orbiter	Success (first successful orbit)
Mars 2	19 May 1971	27 November 1971	22 August 1972	Orbiter	Success
			27 November 1971	Lander / rover[6]	Crash landed on surface of Mars
Mars 3	28 May 1971	2 December 1971	22 August 1972	Orbiter	Success
			2 December 1971	Lander / rover[6]	Success (first successful landing) Landed softly, but ceased transmission within seconds
Mars 4	21 July 1973	10 February 1974	10 February 1974	Orbiter	Did not enter orbit, but made a close flyby
Mars 5	25 July 1973	2 February 1974	21 February 1974	Orbiter	Partial success. Mariner 4 (Mariner-Mars 1964 was the fourth in a series of spacecraft intended for planetary exploration in a flyby mode and performed the first successful For the town in Argentina, see 28 de Noviembre. Events Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Events 1223 - Louis VIII becomes King of France upon the death of his father Philip II of France. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - The end of the Year of the four emperors: Following Galba, Otho and Vitellius, Vespasian Year 1967 ( MCMLXVII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the 1967 Gregorian calendar. Zond 2, a member of the Soviet Zond program, was the fifth Soviet spacecraft to attempt a flyby of Mars Events 1700 - Battle of Narva — A Swedish army of 8500 men under Charles XII defeats Year 1964 ( MCMLXIV) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the 1964 Gregorian calendar. Year 1965 ( MCMLXV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1965 Gregorian calendar. As part of the wider Mariner program, in 1969 Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 ( Mariner Mars 69A / 69B completed the first dual mission to Mars, flying over the Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 30 BC - Battle of Alexandria: Mark Antony achieves a minor victory over Octavian 's forces but most of his army subsequently Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. As part of the wider Mariner program, in 1969 Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 ( Mariner Mars 69A / 69B completed the first dual mission to Mars, flying over the Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mars 1969A, also known as Mars 69A in Soviet documentation was one of two identical probes (the other being Mars 1969B) each consisting of an orbiter and an atmospheric probe Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mars 1969B, also known as Mars 69BA in Soviet documentation was one of two identical probes (the other being Mars 1969A) each consisting of an orbiter and an atmospheric probe Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 68 - Galba, Governor of Hispania, names himself legatus senatus populique Romani, breaking the line of Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Mariner-H, also commonly known as Mariner 8, was (along with Mariner 9) part of the Mariner Mars 71 project Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 589 - Reccared summons the Third Council of Toledo 1450 - Jack Cade's Rebellion: Kentishmen Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Cosmos 419, also known as Mars 1971C in soviet closed documents was launched by the Soviet Union on May 5, 1971. Events 1291 - Scottish Nobles recognize the authority of Edward I of England. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 1191 - Richard I of England marries Berengaria of Navarre. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Mariner 9 (Mariner Mars '71 / Mariner-I was a NASA space probe orbiter that helped in the exploration of Mars and was part of the Mariner program. Events 1416 - The Council of Constance, called by the Emperor Sigismund a supporter of Antipope John XXIII burns Jerome of Prague following Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 312 - Constantine the Great is said to have received his famous Vision of the Cross. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned Landers and Orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s. Events 1535 - French explorer Jacques Cartier sets sail on his second voyage to North America with three ships 110 men and Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 392 - Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1095 - Pope Urban II declares the First Crusade at the Council of Clermont Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. The Mars program was a series of Mars unmanned Landers and Orbiters launched by the Soviet Union in the early 1970s. Events 585 BC - A Solar eclipse occurs as predicted by Greek philosopher and scientist Thales, while Alyattes is battling Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Events 392 - Arbogast has Eugenius elected Western Roman Emperor. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1409 - The University of Leipzig opens 1755 - The second Eddystone Lighthouse is destroyed by fire Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. This article is for the Russian (Soviet series of space probes for the moon designated as Mars II see Deimos (moon; for all missions to Mars see Exploration Events 356 BC - Herostratus sets fire to the Temple of Artemis in Ephesus, one of the Seven Wonders of the World Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 1355 - The St Scholastica's Day riot breaks out in Oxford, England, leaving 63 scholars and perhaps 30 locals dead Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. This article is for the Russian (Soviet series of space probes for the moon designated as Mars II see Deimos (moon; for all missions to Mars see Exploration Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 362 - Athanasius returns to Alexandria. 1245 - Thomas, the first known Bishop of Finland Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Entered orbit, and returned data, but failed within 9 days
Mars 6	5 August 1973	12 March 1974	12 March 1974	Lander	Partial success. This article is for the Russian (Soviet series of space probes for the moon designated as Mars II see Deimos (moon; for all missions to Mars see Exploration Events 642 - Battle of Maserfield - Penda of Mercia defeats and kills Oswald of Bernicia. Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 538 - Witiges, king of the Ostrogoths ends his siege of Rome and retreats to Ravenna, leaving Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Data returned during descent, but not after landing on Mars
Mars 7	9 August 1973	9 March 1974	9 March 1974	Lander	Landing probe separated prematurely; entered heliocentric orbit. This article is for the Russian (Soviet series of space probes for the moon designated as Mars II see Deimos (moon; for all missions to Mars see Exploration Events 48 BC - Caesar's civil war: Battle of Pharsalus - Julius Caesar decisively defeats Pompey at Pharsalus Year 1973 ( MCMLXXIII) was a Common year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the 1973 Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar.
Viking 1	20 August 1975	20 July 1976	17 August 1980	Orbiter	Success
			13 November 1982	Lander	Success
Viking 2	9 September 1975	3 September 1976	25 July 1978	Orbiter	Success
			11 April 1980	Lander	Success
Phobos 1	7 July 1988		2 September 1988	Orbiter	Contact lost while on route to Mars
			Phobos	lander	Not deployed
Phobos 2	12 July 1988	29 January 1989	27 March 1989	Orbiter	Partial success: entered orbit and returned some data. Viking 1 was the first of two spacecraft sent to Mars as part of NASA 's Viking program, and holds the record for the longest Mars surface mission Events 636 - Battle of Yarmouk: Arab forces led by Khalid ibn al-Walid take control of Syria and Palestine Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 1304 - Wars of Scottish Independence: Fall of Stirling Castle - King Edward I of England takes the last rebel stronghold Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 986 - A Byzantine army was destroyed in the pass of Trajan's Gate by the Bulgarians under the Comitopuli Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) Events 1002 - English king Ethelred orders the killing of all Danes in England, known today as the St Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) The Viking 2 mission was part of the Viking program to Mars, and consisted of an orbiter and a lander essentially identical to that of the Viking 1 Events 1000 - Battle of Svolder, Viking Age. 1379 - Treaty of Neuberg, splitting the Austrian Year 1975 ( MCMLXXV) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 36 BC - In the Battle of Naulochus, Marcus Vipsanius Agrippa, Admiral of Octavian, defeats Sextus Pompeius Year 1976 ( MCMLXXVI) was a Leap year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 285 - Diocletian appoints Maximian as Caesar, co-ruler Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Events 491 - Flavius Anastasius becomes Byzantine Emperor, with the name of Anastasius I. Year 1980 ( MCMLXXX) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1980 Gregorian calendar) The Phobos (Фобос Fobos program was an Unmanned space mission consisting of two probes launched by the Soviet Union to study Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Events 44 BC - Pharaoh Cleopatra VII of Egypt declares her son co-ruler as Ptolemy XV Caesarion. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) The Phobos (Фобос Fobos program was an Unmanned space mission consisting of two probes launched by the Soviet Union to study Events 1191 - Saladin 's garrison surrenders ending the two-year Siege of Acre. Year 1988 ( MCMLXXXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link displays 1988 Gregorian calendar) Events 904 - Sergius III comes out of retirement to take over the papacy from the deposed Antipope Christopher. Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Events 196 BC - Ptolemy V ascends to the throne of Egypt. 1309 - Pope Clement V excommunicates Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) Contact lost just before deployment of landers
			2 Phobos	Landers	Not deployed
Mission (1990-1999)	Launch	Arrival at Mars	Termination	Objective	Result
Mars Observer	25 September 1992	24 August 1993	21 August 1993	Orbiter	Lost contact just before arrival
Mars Global Surveyor	7 November 1996	11 September 1997	5 November 2006	Orbiter	Success
Mars 96	16 November 1996		17 November 1996	Orbiter / landers	Launch failure
Mars Pathfinder	4 December 1996	4 July 1997	27 September 1997	Lander / rover	Success
Nozomi (Planet-B)	3 July 1998		9 December 2003	Orbiter	Complications while on route; Never entered orbit
Mars Climate Orbiter	11 December 1998	23 September 1999	23 September 1999	Orbiter	Crash landed on surface due to metric-imperial mix-up
Mars Polar Lander	3 January 1999	3 December 1999	3 December 1999	Lander	Lost contact just before arrival
Deep Space 2 (DS2)				Landers
Mission (2000-)	Launch	Arrival at Mars	Termination	Objective	Result
2001 Mars Odyssey	7 April 2001	24 October 2001	Currently operational	Orbiter	Success
Mars Express Orbiter	2 June 2003	25 December 2003	Currently operational	Orbiter	Success
Beagle 2			6 February 2004	Lander	Lost contact while landing; Assumed to have crash landed
Spirit rover	10 June 2003	4 January 2004	Currently operational	Rover	Success
Opportunity rover	7 July 2003	25 January 2004	Currently operational	Rover	Success
Rosetta	2 March 2004	February 25, 2007	Currently operational	Flyby	Success
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter	12 August 2005	10 March 2006	Currently operational	Orbiter	Success
Phoenix Spacecraft	4 August 2007	25 May 2008	Currently operational	Lander	Success (to date)
Dawn Spacecraft	27 September 2007	(February 2009)	Currently operational	Flyby on way to Vesta	(Successful launch; currently on route to Mars)

Cancelled missions

• Voyager - 1970s - Two orbiters and two landers, launched by a single Saturn V rocket. Mars Observer, launched by NASA in September 25, 1992, was the first of the proposed Observer series of planetary missions and was designed Events 303 - On a voyage preaching the Gospel, Saint Fermin of Pamplona is beheaded in Amiens, France Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Events 49 BC - Julius Caesar 's General Gaius Scribonius Curio is defeated in the Second Battle of the Bagradas River Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) Events 1192 - Minamoto Yoritomo becomes Seii Tai Shōgun and the De facto ruler of Japan. Year 1993 ( MCMXCIII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1993 Gregorian calendar) The Mars Global Surveyor ( MGS) was a US Spacecraft developed by NASA and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory and launched Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 9 - The Battle of the Teutoburg Forest ends 506 - The Bishops of Visigothic Gaul Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 1499 - Publication of the Catholicon in Treguier ( Brittany) Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Mars 96 (sometimes called Mars 8) was an orbiter launched in 1996 to investigate Mars by Russia and not directly related to the Soviet Mars probe program Events 534 - A second and final revision of the Codex Justinianus is published Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 284 - Diocletian is proclaimed emperor by his soldiers Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) The Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 by NASA aboard a Delta II just a month after the Mars Global Surveyor "December 4th" redirects here For the song by Jay-Z, see December 4th (song. Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Events 836 - Pactum Sicardi, peace between the Principality of Benevento and the Duchy of Naples Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Nozomi (のぞみ ( Japanese for "Wish" and known before launch as Planet-B) was planned as a Mars - Orbiting Aeronomy Events 324 - Battle of Adrianople Constantine I defeats Licinius, who flees to Byzantium. Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 536 - Byzantine General Belisarius enters Rome while the Ostrogothic garrison peacefully leaves the city Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. The Mars Climate Orbiter (formerly the Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter was one of two spacecraft in the Mars Surveyor '98 program, the other being the Mars Polar Lander Events 359 - Honoratus, the first known Prefect of the City of Constantinople, takes office Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1122 - Concordat of Worms. 1459 - Battle of Blore Heath, the first major battle of the English Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The Mars Polar Lander was part of the NASA Mars Surveyor '98 program, which consisted of two spacecraft launched separately the Mars Climate Events 1431 - Joan of Arc is handed over to the Bishop Pierre Cauchon. Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Events 1800 - War of the Second Coalition: Battle of Hohenlinden, French Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) The Deep Space 2 mission which launched in January 1999 as part of NASA 's New Millennium Program, consisted of two highly advanced miniature Space probes 2001 Mars Odyssey is a Robotic spacecraft Orbiting the planet Mars. Events 529 - First draft of Corpus Juris Civilis (a fundamental work in Jurisprudence) is issued by Eastern Roman Emperor Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Events 69 - Second Battle of Bedriacum, forces under Antonius Primus the commander of the Danube armies loyal to Vespasian, defeat Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Mars Express is a Space exploration mission being conducted by the European Space Agency (ESA Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 274 - Roman Emperor Aurelian Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Beagle 2 was an unsuccessful British landing spacecraft that formed part of the European Space Agency 's 2003 Mars Express mission Events 46 BC - Julius Caesar defeats the combined army of Pompeian followers and Numidians under Metellus Scipio "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " MER-A ( Mars Exploration Rover - A) known as Spirit, is the first of the two rovers of NASA 's Mars Exploration Rover Events 1190 - Third Crusade: Frederick I Barbarossa drowns in the Sally River while leading an army to Jerusalem Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 46 BC - Titus Labienus defeats Julius Caesar in the Battle of Ruspina. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " MER-B ( Mars Exploration Rover - B) known as Opportunity, is the second of the two rovers of NASA 's Mars Exploration Events 1456 - A retrial verdict acquits Joan of Arc of heresy 25 years after her death Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Events 41 - After a night of negotiation Claudius is accepted as Roman Emperor by the Senate "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Rosetta is a European Space Agency -led Robotic spacecraft mission launched in 2004 intended to study the comet 67P/Churyumov-Gerasimenko. Events 986 - Louis V becomes King of the Franks. 1127 - Assassination of Charles the Good "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Events 138 - The Emperor Hadrian adopts Antoninus Pius, effectively making him his successor Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. NASA 's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter ( MRO) is a multipurpose Spacecraft designed to conduct Reconnaissance and exploration of Mars Events 1099 - First Crusade: Battle of Ascalon - Crusaders under the command of Godfrey of Bouillon defeat Fatimid Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 241 BC - First Punic War: Battle of the Aegates Islands - The Romans sink the Carthaginian fleet bringing Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Phoenix is a Robotic spacecraft on a Space exploration mission on Mars under the Mars Scout Program. Events 70 - The Destruction of the Second Temple in Jerusalem by the Romans. Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Events 1085 - Alfonso VI of Castile takes Toledo Spain back from the Moors. 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common Dawn, launched on September 27 2007 is a Robotic spacecraft being sent by NASA on a Space exploration mission to the two most massive members Events 489 - Odoacer attacks Theodoric at the Battle of Verona and is defeated again Year 2007 ( MMVII) was a Common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. Overview February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 in the This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. TemplateInfobox Planet. --> 4 Vesta (ˈvɛstə Vesta is the second most massive object in the Asteroid belt The Voyager Mars Program was a planned series of unmanned NASA probes to the planet Mars. The Saturn V (pronounced 'Saturn Five' popularly known as the Moon Rocket was a multistage liquid-fuel expendable Rocket used by NASA 's
• Mars Aerostat - Russian/French balloon mission^[7], originally planned for the 1992 launch window, postponed to 1994 and then to 1996 before being cancelled ^[8].
• Mars-98 - Russian mission including an orbiter, lander, and rover, planned for 1998 launch opportunity
• Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander - October 2001 - Mars lander
• NetLander - 2007 or 2009 - Mars netlanders
• Mars Telecommunications Orbiter - September 2009 - Mars orbiter for telecommunications
• Wright Flyer Mars airplane micromission, proposed for December 17, 2003, the centennial of the Wright brother's first flight. Mars Surveyor 2001 Lander was a planned NASA Mars probe which was cancelled in May 2000 in the wake of the failures of the Mars Climate Orbiter and For late 2007 (or 2009 CNES (the French Space Agency and ESA ( The European Space Agency) had planned to send to Mars a remote sensing orbiter and four Data transfer technology The Mars Telecommunications Orbiter was a project to demonstrate optical communications using laser instead of usual radiowaves Events 546 - Gothic War (535–554: The Ostrogoths of King Totila Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar.

See also

• Atmospheric reentry
• List of artificial objects on Mars
• Mars Scout Program
• Space colonization
• New Frontiers Program
• Space weather

Further reading

• Mars - A Warmer, Wetter Planet by Jeffrey S. The following table is a partial list of artificial objects on the surface of Mars. The Mars Scout Program is a NASA program to send a series of small low-cost missions to Mars, competitively selected from innovative proposals by the scientific Space colonization (also called space settlement, space humanization, Space habitation, etc NASA 's New Frontiers program is a series of medium-cost (not to exceed 700 million USD highly focused scientific space missions Space weather is the concept of changing environmental conditions in Outer space. Kargel (published July 2004; ISBN 978-1-85233-568-7)
• The Compact NASA Atlas of the Solar System by Ronald Greeley and Raymond Batson (published January 2002; ISBN 0-5218-0633-X)

References

External links

• MarsDrive Consortium Reference Mission Design and Mars Advocacy
• WhatOnMars Latest Mars News & Images
• Mars Odyssey News Constellation Program news
• marsgeo.com Mars rover videos, photos, detailed analysis of surface geology
• space.com Mars Rovers site
• Explore Mars Now Interactive Mars base simulation. Winner of 2003 Webby Award for Science.
• Next on Mars (Bruce Moomaw, Space Daily, 9 March 2005): An extensive overview of NASA's Mars exploration plans
• Mars Exploration Program Analysis Group at Jet Propulsion Laboratory
• Catalog of Soviet Mars images Collection of Russian mars-probe images. Events 590 - Bahram Chobin is crowned as king Barham VI of Persia. Year 2005 ( MMV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays full calendar of the Gregorian calendar.
• Mars balloon
• NASA History Series Publications (many of which are on-line)
• Phoenix Probe Landing: Article and Video Feed