Mars Climate Orbiter

Robotic space probe launched by NASA on December 11, 1998. Mars Climate Orbiter was launched on December 11, 1998 aboard a Delta 7425-9.5 from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left Earth orbit for deep space (Dec 12, 1998).

COSPAR 1998-073ANORAD 25571United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Mars Climate Orbiter
Payload designation: MCO
Other names: NAIF127
International designator: 1998-073A
NORAD catalog number: 25571
GCAT identifier: S25571
UN registration: ST/SG/SER.E/360

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Mars Surveyor
Owner: JPL
Country: United States
Builder: Lockheed Martin Astronautics
Platform (bus): Mars Surveyor

Launch

Date: December 11, 1998 · 18:45 UTC
Launch record: 1998-073Success
Rocket: Delta 7425-9.5
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad SLC17A

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): EEO
Perigee: 187 km
Inclination: 28.31°
Status: Left Earth orbit for deep space
Status date: December 12, 1998
Last known active: Sep 23, 1999
End of operations: Sep 23, 1999

Size

Mass: 629 kg
Dry mass: 338 kg
Length: 2.1 m
Diameter: 1.60 m
Span: 5.5 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00757
Final central body: Mars
Phase start: September 19, 1999
Phase outcome: Reentered (orbital decay) · September 23, 1999
Destination: Mars

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Dec 12, 1998	Earth	Dec 16, 1998	Escaped to another body	HCO

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Mars	Orbiter	Targeted impact	Sep 23, 1999	—	—

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q574464 (CC0).