MARS PATHFINDER LAUNCH AT LC-17B

[KSC-96PC-1322]

  • Photo Number: KSC-96PC-1322

  • Release Date: 04-Dec-1996

    • Description: The Mars Pathfinder begins the journey to Mars with liftoff atop a Delta II expendable launch vehicle at 1:58 a.m. EST, Dec. 4, 1996, from Launch Complex 17B on Cape Canaveral Air Station. The Mars Pathfinder will travel on a direct trajectory to the Red Planet, arriving there in July 1997. Mars Pathfinder will send a lander and small robotic rover, Sojourner, to the surface of Mars. 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.

    Resolution Format Width
    (Pixels)    		 Height
    (Pixels)    		 Size
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    Thumbnail GIF 80 100 12078
    Slide GIF 122 156 27699
    Low GIF 192 240 66016
    Medium JPEG 614 768 50392
    High JPEG 1920 2400 621865

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    Name: NASA Kennedy Space Center

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Kennedy Space Center, Florida 32899

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    Photos By: National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Scanned By: Bionetics and NASA/KSC Public Affairs Office
    Captions: Sherikon Space Systems
    Curator: NASA/KSC Internet Systems Lab (Dumoulin, Downs, Paladino)
    Last Updated: Tuesday August 28 17:08:55 EDT 2001 (Kay Grinter)

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