Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  “NASA’s Mars Pathfinder mission – the first spacecraft to land on Mars in more than 20 years and the first ever to send a rover out to independently explore the Martian landscape – is set for touchdown July 4, initiating a new era of scientific exploration that will lead eventually to human expeditions to the red planet.” Mars Pathfinder Landing Press Kit, July 1997

Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  The primary mission objectives were to demonstrate the feasibility of low-cost landings on, and exploration of, the Martian surface (Faster, Better, Cheaper)  Scientific objectives included  atmospheric entry science  long-range and close-up surface imaging  the general objective was to characterize the Martian environment for further exploration

Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  Launched December 4, 1996; landed July 4, 1997 in Ares Vallis which was believed to be the site of an ancient flood  Landing site selection made using Viking orbiter imagery  First rover; first to use airbags

Modern Exploration Pathfinder  Landing Site Locations

Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  Pathfinder Landing Site

Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  Lander Instruments  Imager for Mars Pathfinder (IMP)  Meteorological Station  Rover Instruments  Three cameras, two stereo cameras in the front and a rear color imaging system; cameras worked in tandem with a laser system to detect and avoid obstacles  Alpha-Proton-X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS); assess the composition of rocks and soils

Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder

 Notable results from Pathfinder  More than 16,500 images from the lander and 550 images from the rover  More than 15 chemical analyses of rocks and soil and extensive data on winds and other weather factors  Findings from the investigations carried out by scientific instruments on both the lander and the rover suggest that Mars was at one time in its past warm and wet, with water existing in its liquid state and a thicker atmosphere

Modern Exploration Mars Pathfinder  How did Pathfinder advance scientific understanding of Mars?  Evidence on the ground for a warm, wet past  What technological advance(s) did Pathfinder carry?  First rover; can be remotely operated  New landing system