The Mars Polar Lander, also known as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999 to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe, a region near the south pole on Mars. It formed part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission. On December 3, 1999, however, after the descent phase was expected to be complete, the lander failed to reestablish communication with Earth. A post-mortem analysis determined the most likely cause of the mishap was premature termination of the engine firing prior to the lander touching the surface, causing it to strike the planet at a high velocity.
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| - The Mars Polar Lander, also known as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999 to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe, a region near the south pole on Mars. It formed part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission. On December 3, 1999, however, after the descent phase was expected to be complete, the lander failed to reestablish communication with Earth. A post-mortem analysis determined the most likely cause of the mishap was premature termination of the engine firing prior to the lander touching the surface, causing it to strike the planet at a high velocity.
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dbkwik:nasa/proper...iPageUsesTemplate
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Footer
| - Mars Polar Lander entered the Martian atmosphere with an aeroshell for protection from atmospheric friction.
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Power
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Organization
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Webpage
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Name
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Caption
| - (Cruise configuration)
- (Landing procedure)
- (Landing region)
- Artist's depiction of the Mars Polar Lander on Mars
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- 90(xsd:integer)
- 102(xsd:integer)
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Launch
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Alt
| - Map of the region targeted for landing by the Mars Polar Lander.
- Cruise configuration diagram of Mars Polar Lander.
- Diagram of landing prodedures of Mars Polar Lander as it would pass through the atmosphere and land on the surface.
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Image
| - Mars Polar Lander - cruise configuration.png
- Mars Polar Lander - landing diagram.png
- Mars Polar Lander - targeted landing sector.png
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Launch Vehicle
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Major Contractors
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abstract
| - The Mars Polar Lander, also known as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999 to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe, a region near the south pole on Mars. It formed part of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission. On December 3, 1999, however, after the descent phase was expected to be complete, the lander failed to reestablish communication with Earth. A post-mortem analysis determined the most likely cause of the mishap was premature termination of the engine firing prior to the lander touching the surface, causing it to strike the planet at a high velocity.
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