# Mars Polar Lander

> robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999

**Wikidata**: [Q575922](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q575922)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mars_Polar_Lander)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/mars-polar-lander

## Summary
The Mars Polar Lander is a robotic spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999, as part of the Mars Surveyor '98 program. Manufactured by Martin Marietta and operated by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the spacecraft was designed to descend to the Martian surface in the Mare Australe quadrangle. It was launched aboard a Delta II rocket from Cape Canaveral.

## Key Facts
- **Launch Date:** January 3, 1999
- **Landing Date:** December 3, 1999
- **Launch Site:** Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17
- **Launch Vehicle:** Delta II (retired expendable launch system)
- **Operator:** National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) / Jet Propulsion Laboratory
- **Manufacturer:** Martin Marietta
- **Mission Program:** Mars Surveyor '98
- **Target Location:** Mare Australe quadrangle, Mars
- **COSPAR ID:** 1999-001A
- **Spacecraft Type:** Robotic spacecraft / Lander
- **Related Component:** Deep Space 2 (twin Mars impact probes)

## FAQs
### Q: When was the Mars Polar Lander launched?
A: The Mars Polar Lander was launched on January 3, 1999, from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17.

### Q: What rocket was used to launch the Mars Polar Lander?
A: The spacecraft was launched using a Delta II rocket, which is a retired expendable launch system from the Delta rocket family.

### Q: What was the destination of the Mars Polar Lander?
A: The lander was targeted to land in the Mare Australe quadrangle on Mars, having descended toward the surface on December 3, 1999.

### Q: Who manufactured and operated the Mars Polar Lander?
A: The spacecraft was manufactured by Martin Marietta and operated by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

## Why It Matters
The Mars Polar Lander represents a significant chapter in the exploration of the Martian surface, specifically designed to study the planet's southern polar region. As a robotic spacecraft lander, it served as a critical platform for attempting to access data from the Martian surface directly, rather than from orbit. It was a central component of the Mars Surveyor '98 program, which aimed to expand understanding of the Red Planet's climate and geology.

Technologically, the mission highlighted the capabilities and challenges of remote robotic exploration. It carried the Deep Space 2 twin impact probes, demonstrating an integrated approach to planetary science where a primary lander supports secondary, smaller probes. The mission's association with the Delta II launch vehicle and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory underscores the collaborative industrial and scientific effort required for interplanetary travel during this era of space exploration.

## Notable For
- Being a dedicated robotic lander within the Mars Surveyor '98 program.
- Targeting the Mare Australe quadrangle, a specific region on Mars.
- Transporting the Deep Space 2 twin impact probes.
- Being launched on the Delta II rocket system.
- Having a NAIF ID of -116 for navigation and data archiving purposes.

## Body
### Mission Profile and Launch
The Mars Polar Lander was launched on January 3, 1999, utilizing a Delta II rocket from the Cape Canaveral Space Launch Complex 17. It was classified as a robotic spacecraft designed to descend toward and come to rest on the surface of an astronomical body, specifically Mars. The lander was a primary element of the Mars Surveyor '98 mission.

### Technical Specifications and Management
The spacecraft was manufactured by Martin Marietta. Operation of the lander was managed by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory under the overall auspices of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). It was assigned the COSPAR ID 1999-001A and the NAIF ID -116. The spacecraft is also identified by various aliases, including "Mars Surveyor '98 Lander."

### Landing Objectives and Associated Hardware
The scheduled landing date for the mission was December 3, 1999, with a target location in the Mare Australe quadrangle on Mars. The mission included a relationship with the Deep Space 2 project, which consisted of twin Mars impact probes. These probes were distinct from the lander itself but associated with the mission architecture.

## References

1. Jonathan's Space Report
2. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
3. [Source](https://naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html)
4. KBpedia