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Exploration of Mars

Active missions at Mars from 2001 to present
Year Missions
2016 8 8
 
2015 7 7
 
2014 7 7
 
2013 5 5
 
2012 5 5
 
2011 4 4
 
2010 5 5
 
2009 5 5
 
2008 6 6
 
2007 5 5
 
2006 6 6
 
2005 5 5
 
2004 5 5
 
2003 3 3
 
2002 2 2
 
2001 2 2
 
Active spacecraft at Mars 1971-2000
Year Spacecraft
2000 1 1
 
1999 1 1
 
1998 1 1
 
1997 2 2
 
1990-1996 0
1989 1 1
 
1983-1988 0
1982 1 1
 
1981 1 1
 
1980 3 3
 
1979 3 3
 
1978 4 4
 
1976 4 4
 
1975 4 4
 
1974 3 3
 
1973 0
1972 3 3
 
1971 5 5
 

The exploration of Mars is the study of Mars by spacecraft. Probes sent from Earth, beginning in the late 20th century, have yielded a dramatic increase in knowledge about the Martian system, focused primarily on understanding its geology and habitability potential.

Engineering interplanetary journeys is complicated and the exploration of Mars has experienced a high failure rate, especially the early attempts. Roughly two-thirds of all spacecraft destined for Mars failed before completing their missions and some failed before their observations could begin. Some missions have met with unexpected success, such as the twin Mars Exploration Rovers, which operated for years beyond their specification. On 24 October 2016, two scientific rovers were on the surface of Mars beaming signals back to Earth (Opportunity of the Mars Exploration Rover mission and Curiosity of the Mars Science Laboratory mission), with six orbiters surveying the planet: Mars Odyssey, Mars Express, Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, Mars Orbiter Mission, MAVEN, and the Trace Gas Orbiter, which have contributed massive amounts of information about Mars. No sample return missions have been attempted for Mars and an attempted return mission for Mars' moon Phobos (Fobos-Grunt) failed.

On 24 January 2014, NASA reported that current studies on the planet Mars by the Curiosity and Opportunity rovers will search for evidence of ancient life, including a biosphere based on autotrophic, chemotrophic and/or chemolithoautotrophic microorganisms, as well as ancient water, including fluvio-lacustrine environments (plains related to ancient rivers or lakes) that may have been habitable. The search for evidence of habitability, taphonomy (related to fossils), and organic carbon on the planet Mars is now a primary NASA objective.


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