Mars 96

Attempted to investigate the evolution and physics of Mars

The Mars 96 was a Russian mission designed to send an orbiter, two small autonomous stations, and two surface penetrators to Mars. This mission was to investigate the evolution and contemporary physics of the planet by studying the physical and chemical processes which took place in the past and which currently take place. The Mars 96 spacecraft was launched into Earth orbit, but failed to achieve insertion into Mars cruise trajectory and re-entered the Earth’s atmosphere on November 17, 1996.

Mission Class:

Larger Missions

Mission Status:

Past

LASP Roles:

Instruments

Science Target:

Mars

Mission Focus:

Planetary Atmosphere

Launch Date: November 16, 1996
Prime Mission: Spacecraft failed to achieve insertion into Mars cruise trajectory
Earth re-entry: November 17, 1996

Lead Institution: Russian Space Agency

Lead Funding Agency: Russian Space Agency