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.
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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