 Artist rendering of Mars Observer in orbit around Mars | |
| Names | Mars Geoscience and Climatology Orbiter |
|---|---|
| Mission type | Mars orbiter |
| Operator | NASA / JPL |
| COSPAR ID | 1992-063A |
| SATCAT no. | 22136 |
| Website | science.nasa.gov |
| Mission duration | 330 days Mission failure |
| Spacecraft properties | |
| Bus | Mars Observer bus (AS-4000-TIROS/DMSP hybrid) |
| Manufacturer | General Electric Astro Space |
| Launch mass | 1,018 kg (2,244 lb) |
| Power | 1,147 watts |
| Start of mission | |
| Launch date | September 25, 1992, 17:05:01 UTC |
| Rocket | Commercial Titan III/TOS |
| Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-40 |
| Contractor | Martin Marietta |
| End of mission | |
| Last contact | August 21, 1993, 01:00 UTC |
| Orbital parameters | |
| Reference system | Areocentric |
| Semi-major axis | 3,766.159 km (2,340.183 mi) |
| Eccentricity | 0.004049 |
| Inclination | 92.869° |
| Epoch | December 6, 1993 Planned |
| Flyby of Mars (failed insertion) | |
| Closest approach | August 24, 1993 |
The Mars Observer spacecraft, also known as the Mars Geoscience/Climatology Orbiter, was a robotic space probe launched by NASA on September 25, 1992, to study the Martian surface, atmosphere, climate and magnetic field. On August 21, 1993, during the interplanetary cruise phase, communication with the spacecraft was lost, three days prior to the probe's orbital insertion. Attempts to re-establish communications with the spacecraft were unsuccessful.