Mars Global Surveyor

Quick Facts: Who was Mars Global Surveyor?

Subject:

Mars Global Surveyor

Known for:

NASA orbiter mission mapping Mars's surface and atmosphere (1996–2006)

Born:

1996

Died:

2006

Century / Era:

1996s Historical Era Archive

Verified Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Primary Historical Archives

Origins & Early Life

Mars Global Surveyor (MGS) was an American robotic space probe developed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. It was launched on November 7, 1996, and collected data in orbit around Mars from 1997 to 2006. MGS was a global mapping mission that examined the entire planet, from the ionosphere down through the atmosphere to the surface.

Career & Major Achievements

As part of the larger Mars Exploration Program, Mars Global Surveyor performed atmospheric monitoring for sister orbiters during aerobraking, and helped Mars rovers and lander missions by identifying potential landing sites and relaying surface telemetry. The spacecraft completed its primary mission in January 2001 and was in its third extended mission phase when, on 2 November 2006, it failed to respond to messages and commands. A faint signal was detected three days later which indicated that it had gone into safe mode.

Enduring Legacy & Impact

Attempts to recontact the spacecraft and resolve the problem failed, and NASA officially ended the mission in January 2007. An investigation attributed the loss of the spacecraft to a flaw in an update to its system software.

Chronological Milestones & Life Events

1. 1996: Birth of Mars Global Surveyor — NASA orbiter mission mapping Mars's surface and atmosphere (1996–2006)
2. 2001: 2001 Milestone — The spacecraft completed its primary mission in January 2001 and was in its third extended mission phase when, on 2 November 2006, it failed to respond to messages and commands.
3. 2006: Passing & Historical Legacy — Mars Global Surveyor passed away on 2006, leaving an enduring historical legacy.
4. 2007: 2007 Milestone — Attempts to recontact the spacecraft and resolve the problem failed, and NASA officially ended the mission in January 2007.

Notable Quotes by Mars Global Surveyor

“MGS was a global mapping mission that examined the entire planet, from the ionosphere down through the atmosphere to the surface.” (1996)

Historical Fact-Check Quiz: Mars Global Surveyor

True or False: “Mars Global Surveyor was designed to photograph the surface of Mars only, ignoring atmospheric data.”

Answer (FALSE ❌): MGS was explicitly designed as a global mapping mission that examined the entire planet, from the ionosphere down through the atmosphere to the surface.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• 6ix9ine — Contemporary (Born in 1996) (1996): American rapper known for aggressive style and controversial public persona.
• A'ja Wilson — Contemporary (Born in 1996) (1996): Elite American WNBA star known for multiple MVP awards and championship success.
• Abdus Salam — Contemporary (Died in 1996) (1996): Pioneering Pakistani theoretical physicist and Nobel laureate.
• Aaron Spelling — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Ahmet Ertegun — Contemporary (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering Turkish-American music executive, co-founder of Atlantic Records.
• Adolf Galland — Historical peer (Died in 1996) (1996): German Luftwaffe general and celebrated flying ace of World War II.
• Agnes Chow — Historical peer (Born in 1996) (1996): Prominent Hong Kong pro-democracy activist and political candidate.
• Alexander Litvinenko — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Russian defector and critic of the Kremlin, known for exposing state corruption.
• Alfredo Stroessner — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Paraguayan military dictator who ruled from 1954 to 1989, known for repression.
• 1996 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1996
• 2006 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 2006

Frequently Asked Questions about Mars Global Surveyor