Mars Pathfinder

Mars lander. Mars Pathfinder was launched on December 4, 1996 aboard a Delta 7925 from Cape Canaveral & Kennedy. Latest status in GCAT: left for deep space attached to another object (Dec 4, 1996).

COSPAR 1996-068ANORAD 24667United States

Identity

Name in GCAT: Sagan Memorial Station
Common name: Mars Pathfinder
Payload designation: MPF Lander
Other names: Mars Pathfinder
International designator: 1996-068A
NORAD catalog number: 24667
GCAT identifier: S24667
UN registration: ST/SG/SER.E/322

Mission

Mission type: Deep space
Use: Civil government
Program: Discovery
Owner: JPL
Country: United States
Builder: Jet Propulsion Lab
Platform (bus): MPF

Launch

Date: December 4, 1996 · 06:58 UTC
Launch record: 1996-068Success
Rocket: Delta 7925
Spaceport: Cape Canaveral & Kennedy · pad LC17B

Orbit and fate

Orbit class (GCAT): EEO
Perigee: 184 km
Inclination: 28.78°
Status: Left for deep space attached to another object
Status date: December 4, 1996
Last known active: Oct 7, 1997
End of operations: Oct 7, 1997

Size

Mass: 398 kg
Dry mass: 350 kg
Total mass with attached objects: 880 kg
Length: 0.5 m
Diameter: 1.40 m
Span: 5.3 m

Deep space

Deep-space catalog entry: D00727
Final central body: Mars
Phase start: July 2, 1997
Phase outcome: Released · July 4, 1997

Flight phases

From	Central body	Ended	Outcome	Next
Dec 4, 1996	Earth	Dec 9, 1996	Escaped to another body, attached	HCO
Jul 4, 1997	Mars	Jul 4, 1997	Landed	Mars
Jul 4, 1997	Mars	Sep 27, 1997	Stopped transmitting on the surface	Mars

Landings and impacts

World	Type	Result	Touchdown	Site	Coordinates
Mars	Lander (airbags)	Landed and operated	Jul 4, 1997	Sagan Memorial Station	19.33, -33.55

Source: GCAT payload, deep-space and lander catalogs, Jonathan C. McDowell (CC BY 4.0); Wikidata Q201771 (CC0).