Quote:
Originally posted by kashi@Jan 11 2004, 06:53 AM
What's the url for the article you referred to?
Littlemews wants to know what recent technology has enhanced our capability of reaching the red planet successfully. Has there been a greater success rate since the year 2000?
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The list is in Jan 10 edition of New Scientist, dunno if they have it in the online version. There has been no recent enhancement to capability of reaching Mars successfully judging from the list of failed and successful missions. The first U.S. success was Mariner 4 in '64 and their first failure was Mariner 3 also in '64. Mariners 6 & 7 (1969) worked, 8 failed and 9 succeeded (1971).
Since 2000 there's only been Mars Odyssey, Mars Express/Beagle 2 and the two MERs launched (Nozumi was launched in '98) so only one of them can be declared a complete success so far--Odyssey-- though Mars Express and at least MER-A are obviously looking hopeful and Beagle 2 isn't.
Another interesting point is that of the U.S. Mars landers 3/4 have succeeded--Viking 1 & 2 plus Pathfinder--only MPL failed. Hopefully MER-A and B will improve on this excellent record. Who said landing on Mars was hard? ;-)