Entering the orbit of Mars 19 years ago this week was a spacecraft that taught us a lot about our planetary neighbor.
Mars Global Surveyor. Image Credit: NASA/JPL
It was NASA’s Mars Global Surveyor which arrived at Mars on September 12, 1997.
The mission studied the planet’s surface, atmosphere and interior using its six instruments. This included the planet’s topography and shape, geological processes, surface properties, magnetic field and weather. It looked at the atmosphere’s thermal structure and how the surface interacted with the atmosphere. It showed scientists debris flow features in addition to gullies, suggesting that liquid water could be present on Mars.
The spacecraft provided scientists with weather data, both daily and seasonal, which has helped in the selection of safe landing sites for future landers. The mission additionally showed scientists 3-D views of Mars’ topography for the first time. Furthermore, it has characterized the gravity, magnetic fields and thermal properties of Mars.
During its extended mission, the spacecraft continued to monitor the weather, surface changes that were due to wind and ice, took images of potential sites for the 2007 Phoenix lander and 2009 Curiosity rover and looked at important sites of scientific interest.
Aerobraking of Mars Global Surveyor. Image Credit: NASA/JPL
Ever wonder how big Mars is relative to Earth? The image below gives us a better understanding.
Earth & Mars. Image Credit: NASA/JPL
In 2006, Mars Global Surveyor went silent after contributing three years after it was expected to run out of fuel. The mission helped scientists understand the changing landscape and seasons of the red planet. The tremendous knowledge gained from Mars Global Surveyor remains a testimony to the incredibly successful historical mission.
To learn more about Mars Global Surveyor, check out NASA.gov.