On this day in space! Nov. 7, 1992: NASA launches Mars Global Surveyor, its 1st Mars mission in 20 years at the time, to map the Red Planet like never before
On Nov. 7, 1996, NASA launched its Mars Global Surveyor mission, the first Mars mission in 20 years. Here's why it mattered.
On November 7, 1996, the United States space agency NASA launched the Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft, marking its first mission to Mars in nearly two decades. This orbiter was designed to revolutionize our understanding of the Red Planet through advanced orbit-based science. The Mars Global Surveyor transmitted crucial data from NASA's Mars rovers, including Sojourner, Spirit, and Opportunity, enabling scientists to gather valuable information about the Martian landscape.
The spacecraft also made groundbreaking discoveries, such as identifying surface channels that suggested the presence of running water and detecting signs of possible climate change at the south pole of Mars. Additionally, Mars Global Surveyor discovered a mineral called hematite, which typically forms in water environments. This mission not only served as a relay for surface-based rovers but also paved the way for multiple concurrent Mars missions.
Over its nine active years, the Mars Global Surveyor sent back over 240,000 images to Earth, providing unprecedented insights into the Martian surface, atmosphere, and interior.
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