Mars Observer Mars-orbiter spacecraft family
The Mars Observer family comprised the 1992 NASA Mars orbiter designed to map the planet surface, atmosphere, climate, and magnetic environment; contact was lost during the planned orbit-insertion sequence.
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Identity
- Aliases
- Mars ObserverMO
- Family Name
- Mars Observer
- Full Name
- Mars Observer Mars-orbiter spacecraft family
- Roles
- interplanetary_probeorbiter
- Status
- retired
- Type
- spacecraft
Details
- Description
- The Mars Observer family comprised the 1992 NASA Mars orbiter designed to map the planet surface, atmosphere, climate, and magnetic environment; contact was lost during the planned orbit-insertion sequence.
- First Flight Year
- 1,992
- Last Flight Year
- 1,993
- Operator
- Propulsion Configurations
- Entries
- Count
- 1
- Propulsion System
- Role
- maneuvering
- Stage
- spacecraft
- Variant Notes
- Four 490 N MMH/NTO bipropellant engines for trajectory-correction maneuvers, Mars orbit insertion, and large spacecraft velocity changes.
- Count
- 1
- Propulsion System
- Role
- attitude-control
- Stage
- spacecraft
- Variant Notes
- Four 22 N MMH/NTO bipropellant engines for finer trajectory control and pitch/yaw control.
- Count
- 1
- Propulsion System
- Role
- maneuvering
- Stage
- spacecraft
- Variant Notes
- Eight 4.45 N catalytic hydrazine engines for reaction-wheel momentum desaturation and orbit-trim maneuvers.
- Count
- 1
- Propulsion System
- Role
- attitude-control
- Stage
- spacecraft
- Variant Notes
- Four 0.9 N catalytic hydrazine engines for roll control.
- Name
- Mars Observer dual-mode bipropellant and hydrazine propulsion installation
- Notes
- NASA identifies four 490 N and four 22 N MMH/NTO bipropellant engines for trajectory control, orbit insertion, and pitch/yaw control, plus eight 4.45 N and four 0.9 N hydrazine monopropellant engines for reaction-wheel desaturation, orbit trim, and roll control.
- Spacecraft Specs
- Launch Mass Kg
- 1,018
Links
- Official Url
- https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-observer/
Assets & Meta
- Creation Time
- August 6, 2026 at 17:41:47 UTC
- Updated Time
- September 8, 2026 at 09:48:29 UTC