The day after my 48th birthday in 1996, NASA launched an unmanned spacecraft to the intriguing Red Planet, Mars. As a youngster reading science fiction novels about Martians, written by the likes of Ray Bradbury and Edgar Rice Burroughs, I never expected to see Mars exlporation in my lifetime. Now with the launch of Pathfinder and the preceding Mars Global Surveyor mission, these spacecraft adventurers will lead the way for manned expeditions in our lifetime.
On July 20, 1969, I was riveted to my television set in Alameda, CA, watching the Apollo 11 mission in amazement when Neil Armstrong set mankind's foot on the Moon, the greatest journey in history... so far! Where will you be when mankind lands on Mars?
KENNEDY SPACE CENTER, FLA.—The Mars Pathfinder hurtles upward into a clear night sky atop a Delta II expendable launch vehicle. Liftoff on the third launch attempt occurred at 1:58 a.m. EST, Dec. 4, 1996, from Launch Complex 17B on Cape Canaveral Air Station. After arriving at the Red Planet in July 1997, the Mars Pathfinder lander will descend to the planet's surface and deploy a small robotic explorer, Sojourner, to explore the terrain. The primary objective of the mission is to demonstrate a low-cost way of delivering a science package to the surface of the Red Planet using a direct entry, descent and landing with the aid of small rocket engines, a parachute, airbags and other techniques. In addition, landers and rovers of the future will share the heritage of Mars Pathfinder designs and technologies first tested in this mission. Pathfinder also will collect invaluable data about the Martian surface. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory manages the Mars Pathfinder mission for NASA's Office of Space Science. McDonnell Douglas Aerospace builds the Delta II launch vehicle. (Photograph and text courtesy of NASA.)
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