mars

Note what clearly looks like what had been a stream and the gullies flowing into it in this photo of the Mars terrain.

Summary of Mars Major Explorations

'60s and '70s - the Mariner and Viking program flybys.

'82 - the advent of the computer era brought increased capabilities to spacecraft and methods to probe the planet but progress at NASA was very slow.

'82 - '95 - No Successful Missions. There were four (4) attempts by the US and three (3) by Russia but none succeeded.

'96 - the Global Surveyor was placed in orbit.

'97 - the Pathfinder Rover mission on the surface of Mars was successful.

'99 - the Climate Orbiter with high intensity probes was lost.

'99 - the Polar Lander with a mission to land near the South Pole was lost.

Apr '01 - Odyssey is launched.

Oct '01 - Odyssey reaches Mars

Jun '03 - Mars Express is launched.
Jun '03 - Mars Spirit is launched.

the "Mars Curse"

to date it is:

Mars 8 Earth 7

Phobos 1 Russia 88 Lander lost 8/88

Phobos 2 Russia 88 Lander lost 3/89

Mars Observer U.S. 92 Orbiter lost 8/93

Mars Global Surveyor U.S. 96 Orbiter successful and currently mapping

Mars 96 Russia 96 Lander lost when launch vehicle failed

Mars Pathfinder U.S. 96 Lander successful transmissions until 9/27/97

Nozomi Japan 98 Orbiter lost on second pass 12/09/03

Mars Climate Orbiter U.S. 98 Orbiter lost on arrival 9/23/99

Mars Polar Lander U.S. 99 Lander lost on arrival 12/3/99

Mars Odyssey U.S. 01 Orbiter successful and currently mapping

Mars Express European
Space Agency 03 Orbiter successful and currently mapping

Beagle 2 European
Space Agency 03 Lander lost on arrival Dec 25 2003

Mars Spirit U.S. 03 Lander successful and currently roving

Mars Opportunity U.S. 03 Lander successful and currently roving

Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) U.S. 06 Orbiter successful and currently mapping

Phobos 1	Russia	88	Lander	lost 8/88
Phobos 2	Russia	88	Lander	lost 3/89
Mars Observer	U.S.	92	Orbiter	lost 8/93
Mars Global Surveyor	U.S.	96	Orbiter	successful and currently mapping
Mars 96	Russia	96	Lander	lost when launch vehicle failed
Mars Pathfinder	U.S.	96	Lander	successful transmissions until 9/27/97
Nozomi	Japan	98	Orbiter	lost on second pass 12/09/03
Mars Climate Orbiter	U.S.	98	Orbiter	lost on arrival 9/23/99
Mars Polar Lander	U.S.	99	Lander	lost on arrival 12/3/99
Mars Odyssey	U.S.	01	Orbiter	successful and currently mapping
Mars Express	European Space Agency	03	Orbiter	successful and currently mapping
Beagle 2	European Space Agency	03	Lander	lost on arrival Dec 25 2003
Mars Spirit	U.S.	03	Lander	successful and currently roving
Mars Opportunity	U.S.	03	Lander	successful and currently roving
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO)	U.S.	06	Orbiter	successful and currently mapping