Artist's impression of the Mars Observer spacecraft in orbit. The Mars Observer mission will be launched in September/October 1992, entering the orbit

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Artist's impression of the Mars Observer spacecraft in orbit. The Mars Observer mission will be launched in September/October 1992, entering the orbit of Mars a year later. The orbit will be sun-synchronous, and will allow a complete high-resolution map of the planet to be made over the one Martian year duration of the mission (687 Earth days). In addition to its camera, Mars Observer will carry a laser altimeter accurate to a few metres and a variety of instruments investigating Martian mineralogy, atmosphere and magnetosphere. The six-part solar panel will provide around of electricity.

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Size: 5113px × 3984px
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: craft, exploration, journey, journeying, journeys, mars, mission, missions, observer, planetary, research, space, spacecraft, travel, travelling, travels, unmanned