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Mars Pathfinder spacecraft

NASA's Mars Pathfinder surface spacecraft comprised the stationary Pathfinder lander and its small free-ranging Sojourner rover. The mission demonstrated a direct-entry airbag landing system and delivered the first robotic rover to operate on Mars.

Mars Pathfinder spacecraft
NASA / Jet Propulsion Laboratory · NASA/JPL asset; the exact NASA Images API record PIA00621 is byte-identical to this color mosaic of the Sojourner rover and undeployed ramps on the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft, credits JPL, and records NASA/JPL as secondary creator. NASA’s current Images and Media Usage Guidelines generally permit factual or informational/editorial use with NASA attribution and without implying NASA endorsement. NASA insignia and identifiers, third-party material, commercial, promotional, merchandise, or other protected-rights uses may require separate clearance; verify before such use. · Source
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Identity

Aliases
Pathfinder lander and Sojourner roverMars Pathfinder surface spacecraft
Family Name
Mars Pathfinder
Full Name
Mars Pathfinder spacecraft
Roles
landerrovertechnology_demonstrator
Status
retired
Type
spacecraft

Details

Description
NASA's Mars Pathfinder surface spacecraft comprised the stationary Pathfinder lander and its small free-ranging Sojourner rover. The mission demonstrated a direct-entry airbag landing system and delivered the first robotic rover to operate on Mars.
First Flight Year
1,996
Last Flight Year
1,996
Manufacturer
Operator
Spacecraft Specs
Reusability
expendable

Links

Official Url
https://science.nasa.gov/mission/mars-pathfinder/

Assets & Meta

Creation Time
July 14, 2026 at 21:50:51 UTC
Updated Time
July 23, 2026 at 00:53:30 UTC
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Mars Pathfinder spacecraft Pathfinder lander and Sojourner rover Mars Pathfinder surface spacecraft