References & Sources

NASA loses Mars Climate Orbiter

Dipping too low into the Martian atmosphere, the Mars Climate Orbiter apparently burned up or was torn apart on September 23, minutes after it was to have entered orbit around the Red Planet.

References:

Information about the Mars Climate Orbiter is available at http://mpfwww.jpl.nasa.gov/msp98/orbiter/mission.html and http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/status/mco/mco990924.html.

Further Readings:

Cowen, R. 1998. Scooping up a chunk of Mars. Science News 153(April 25):265.

______. 1993. NASA loses contact with Mars Observer. Science News 144(Aug. 28):134.

Sources:

Richard W. Zurek
NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory
Mailstop Code 169-237
4800 Oak Grove Drive
Pasadena, CA 91109

From Science News, Vol. 156, No. 14, October 2, 1999, p. 214. Copyright © 1999, Science Service.