Pathfinder & Sojourner: the story
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 1 of 7
4 December 1996
Launch
Pathfinder & Sojourner left Earth on a Delta II 7925 from Space Launch Complex 17B.
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 2 of 7
4 July 1997
Arrival
Airbag landing at Ares Vallis.
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 3 of 7
4 December 1996
Liftoff
A Delta II launched Mars Pathfinder from Launch Complex 17B.
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 4 of 7
4 July 1997
Bouncing in
Wrapped in airbags, it bounced about 15 times, as high as 15 m, before rolling to a stop.
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 5 of 7
5 July 1997
Sojourner rolls off
Late on its second day, Sojourner stood up to its full 30 cm and drove down the lander's rear ramp.
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 6 of 7
1997
Ares Vallis
An ancient flood plain, among the rockiest places on Mars, chosen for its variety of rocks.
Pathfinder & Sojourner · Chapter 7 of 7
27 September 1997
Last signal
The lander's last full transmission came on 27 September 1997. Sojourner, which talked to Earth through the lander, went quiet with it.
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