description Phobos 1 Overview
Phobos 1 was a Soviet spacecraft launched in July 1988, the twin of Phobos 2 in a program intended to study Mars and place small landers on the Martian moon Phobos. Contact was lost in September 1988 en route to Mars after an erroneous ground command shut off the attitude-control thrusters, leaving the spacecraft unable to keep its solar panels pointed at the Sun, so its batteries ran down. Its sister craft Phobos 2 reached Mars the following year but was also lost before completing its mission.
help Phobos 1 FAQ
When was Phobos 1 launched?
Phobos 1 was a Soviet spacecraft launched in July 1988. It was part of a paired mission with the later Phobos 2 spacecraft.
What was Phobos 1 supposed to do?
Phobos 1 was intended to study Mars and help place small landers on the Martian moon Phobos. The mission was part of a broader Soviet effort to investigate Mars and its moons.
Why did contact with Phobos 1 stop?
Contact was lost in September 1988 after an erroneous ground command shut off the spacecraft's attitude-control system. Without proper orientation, the probe could no longer reliably point its communications and power systems.
Was Phobos 1 the same spacecraft as Phobos 2?
No. Phobos 1 and Phobos 2 were twin Soviet spacecraft launched for the same Mars and Phobos program. Phobos 2 reached the Mars system, while Phobos 1 was lost en route.
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