description Mars Global Surveyor Overview
Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was an unmanned NASA spacecraft designed to map and study the surface and atmosphere of Mars. Launched in 1996 and inserted into Martian orbit in 1997, the orbiter utilized a technique called aerobraking to gradually achieve its final circular mapping orbit. It was equipped with instruments including the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter (MOLA) and a high-resolution camera, enabling the creation of the first detailed global topographic map of the planet. The mission successfully operated until NASA lost contact with the spacecraft in 2006.
help Mars Global Surveyor FAQ
What did the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter discover?
MOLA measured the elevation of the Martian surface and produced the first precise global topographic map of Mars. Its data revealed the enormous elevation difference between the planet's northern lowlands and southern highlands.
How long did Mars Global Surveyor operate?
NASA launched it on November 7, 1996, and it entered Mars orbit in September 1997. It continued returning data until communication was lost in November 2006, far beyond its original primary mission.
What cameras and instruments were carried by Mars Global Surveyor?
Its payload included the Mars Orbiter Camera, MOLA, the Thermal Emission Spectrometer, and a magnetometer with an electron reflectometer. It also carried a radio-science experiment and a relay antenna for communications with surface missions.
Why did NASA lose contact with Mars Global Surveyor?
NASA traced the loss to a sequence of spacecraft events associated with a computer command error and subsequent battery failure. The orbiter went silent in November 2006 and could not be recovered.
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