Mars Exploration Timeline

MISSION
LAUNCHED
HIGHLIGHTS
Mariner 4

Nov. 28, 1964

22 black and white images show no kinds of life; also show water and frost. This was the first piece of proof that Mars' atmosphere is very thin.

Mariner 6 & 7

Feb. 24 and

Mar. 27, 1969

75 and 126 images of Mars' equatorial region, southern ice caps, and the southern hemisphere. On that flight Mars' mass and density were measured.

Mariner 9

Orbiter

May 30, 1974

7,329 images (most of them in color) are sent back showing global maps of elevation and temperature. First pictures shown of the giant volcano.

Viking 1

Orbiter

and Lander

August 20, 1975

Orbiter gives 3,000 images of the surface, many in color. Some pictures show us the pink sky, dark rocks, and red dust. Also maps of the temperature are shown.

Viking 2

Orbiter

Lander

September 9, 1975

Orbiter gives 2000 images, none containing any sign of life. It also records some of Mars' weather.

Mars Global
Surveyor Orbiter

November 7,1996

Global weather, surface,topography images and temperatures.

Mars Pathfinder
May 1, 1998

First landing near Mars' south pole.

Mars' Global

Surveyor

March, 1999

It will image pictures and continue to search Mars' localized magnet fields.

New Orbiter and

Lander with a Rover Payload

2001

They will collect rock and soil samples, then cache the samples.

Mars Surveyor

03

2003

It will collect and cache rock and soil samples.