Mars Pathfinder Lands on July 4th
News story originally written on June 30, 1997

The Pathfinder spacecraft with its solar panels out and rover deployed Click on image for full size (51K GIF) Image courtesy of Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasedena, CA The Mars Pathfinder was launched on a rocket last December. The spacecraft is on its way to Mars right now. It will land on Mars on July 4th. If you had the chance to visit Mars, you might take pictures of your trip. This is exactly what the Mars Pathfinder does. It has a camera that will take pictures of Mars. If you were on the surface of Mars, you might collect rocks there. The Pathfinder spacecraft has a rover that does this. The rover searches the surface of Mars and collects rocks that can be tested. Mars Pathfinder will finish its surface mission in August 1997.

Mars Pathfinder Homepage

The University of Michigan Astronomy Department Image of the Month for May 1997: NASA Pays Another Visit to the Red Planet

Pathfinder Science and Mission Objectives

More on Martian Missions

Last modified prior to September, 2000 by the Windows Team

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