Mars Exploration Space Exploration & Science Missions NASA

NASA launched Mars Global Surveyor on Nov. 7, 1996, to map Mars and follow the loss of Mars Observer

Mars Global Surveyor was designed to give NASA another chance to study and map the Red Planet after contact with Mars Observer was lost three days before that spacecraft was due to enter orbit. Launched 30 years ago, the mission was NASA’s first Mars mission in 20 years.

Discovered 2026-11-07T03:28:02.883493-08:00 | 2026-11-07T03:28:02.883493-08:00

Briefing

What Hype is tracking

The mission was a response to the loss of Mars Observer shortly before orbit insertion, illustrating how mission design and follow-on plans can preserve science objectives after a spacecraft failure.
Mars Global Surveyor was intended to map the planet; its launch marked NASA’s return to Mars exploration after a 20-year gap.

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Space.com keeptrack.space