The following table is a partial list of artificial objects on the surface of Mars, consisting of spacecraft which were launched from Earth. Most are defunct after having served their purpose, but the Opportunity and the Curiosity rovers are still operational as of 2013. Curiosity is the most recent man-made object to land safely on Mars. The list does not currently include smaller objects such as springs, fragments, parachutes, heatshields. The landers of the MER rovers, or other mission objects may be included in the future.
| Man-made object |
Image |
Nationality |
Landed |
Mass (kg) |
Status |
Location |
| Mars 2 |
|
USSR |
1971 |
1210 |
Failure during descent; crashed on surface |
45°S 313°W / 45°S 313°W / -45; -313 (Mars 2) [1] |
| Mars 3 |
|
USSR |
1971 |
1210 |
Transmission failure 14.5 seconds after soft landing |
Sirenum Terra, 45°S 158°W / 45°S 158°W / -45; -158 (Mars 3) [2] |
| Mars 6 |
|
USSR |
1973 |
635 |
Insufficient thrust during landing; crashed on surface |
Margaritifer Terra, 23°54′S 19°25′W / 23.90°S 19.42°W / -23.90; -19.42 (Mars 6) [3] |
| Viking 1 lander |
|
United States |
1976 |
657 |
Operated 2245 sols. Last contact Nov 11, 1982 |
Chryse Planitia, 22°41′49″N 48°13′19″W / 22.697°N 48.222°W / 22.697; -48.222 (Viking 1) [4] |
| Viking 2 lander |
|
United States |
1976 |
657 |
Operated 1281 sols. Last contact Apr 11, 1980 |
Utopia Planitia, 48°16′08″N 225°59′24″W / 48.269°N 225.990°W / 48.269; -225.990 (Viking 2) [5] |
| Mars Pathfinder lander & Sojourner rover |
|
United States |
1997 |
360 |
Operated 83 sols. Last contact Sep 27, 1997[6] |
Ares Vallis, 19°20′N 33°33′W / 19.33°N 33.55°W / 19.33; -33.55 (Mars Pathfinder and Sojourner) [7][8] |
| Mars Climate Orbiter |
|
United States |
1999 |
629 |
Destroyed by atmospheric stresses & friction.[9] |
Unknown |
| Mars Polar Lander & Deep Space 2 |
|
United States |
1999 |
500 |
Unknown failure during descent; crashed on surface |
Ultimi Scopuli, 76°S 195°W / 76°S 195°W / -76; -195 (Mars Polar Lander and Deep Space 2) [10][11] |
| Spirit rover (MER-A) |
|
United States |
2004 |
185 |
Operated 2210 sols. Last contact Mar 22, 2010 |
Gusev crater, 14°34′18″S 175°28′43″E / 14.5718°S 175.4785°E / -14.5718; 175.4785 (Spirit rover) [12][13] |
| Opportunity rover (MER-B) |
|
United States |
2004 |
185 |
Still in operation |
Meridiani Planum, 1°56′46″S 354°28′24″E / 1.9462°S 354.4734°E / -1.9462; 354.4734 (Opportunity rover) [14][15] |
| Phoenix Mars Lander |
|
United States |
2008 |
350 |
Operated 155 sols. Last contact Nov 2, 2008 |
Vastitas Borealis, unofficially named Green Valley, 68°09′N 125°54′W / 68.15°N 125.9°W / 68.15; -125.9 (Phoenix) [16] |
| Mars Science Laboratory (Curiosity) |
|
United States |
2012 |
900 |
Still in operation |
Aeolis Palus in Gale Crater, 4°36′0″S 137°12′0″E / 4.60000°S 137.20000°E / -4.60000; 137.20000 |
| Total estimated dry mass (kg) |
9,303 |
- The Beagle 2 spacecraft may have hit Mars while attempting to land on 25 December 2003 and parts of the spaceship may have reached the surface of Mars; although it may have bounced off the Martian atmosphere, or missed the planet entirely. It is not confirmed to be on the surface of Mars. Beagle 2 was targeted for the Isidis Planitia basin (about 90 degrees East, 10 degrees North).[17]
- Orbiters that could eventually enter include: MRO, 2001MO, ME, MGS, Phobos 2, Mars 2, Mars 3, and Mars 5 orbiters, and Mariner 9.
Image map of Mars landings[edit]
The following imagemap of the planet Mars has embedded links to geographical features in addition to the noted Rover and Lander locations. Click on the features and you will be taken to the corresponding article pages. North is at the top; Elevations: red (higher), yellow (zero), blue (lower).
Examples[edit]
MER-A Spirit rover lander
|
MER-B Opportunity's heat shield
|
See also[edit]
References[edit]
