Mars Polar Lander
Videos
The Mars Polar Lander, also known as the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander, was a 290-kilogram uncrewed spacecraft lander launched by NASA on January 3, 1999, to study the soil and climate of Planum Australe,
Mars Descent Imager
Mars Microphone
The spacecraft in stowed position just prior to encapsulation
Testing performed at the Spacecraft Assembly and Encapsulation Facility
Deep Space 2
Videos
Deep Space 2 was a NASA space probe, part of the New Millennium Program. It included two highly advanced miniature space probes that were sent to Mars aboard the Mars Polar Lander in January 1999. The
Mars Polar Lander
…Assessment Team, the program "was under funded by at least 30%." Planum Australe, which served as the exploration target for the lander and the two Deep Space 2 probes, would in later years be explored by European Space Agency's MARSIS radar, which examined and analyzed the site from Mars's orbit. Mars Surveyor…
A Deep Space 2 probe with heatshield and mounting attached to the Mars Polar Lander
Deep Space 2 project manager Sarah Gavit with the engineering hardware of the probe
Deep Space 2 penetrator
Deep Space 2 surface element