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Update -- July 6 12:10am (0410 UT): Pathfinder engineers have uplinked the commands for the rover to drive down the ramp and onto the Martian surface. The rover will go backwards down the rear ramps as the front ramp apparently did not reach the surface. Images of the rover on the surface should be returned within the next two hours.
Update -- July 5 8:30pm (0030 UT July 6): At a JPL press conference officials confirmed communications had been restored to the rover Sojourner. Plans call for deployment of the ramps at around 10pm EDT (0200 UT). If that succeeds the rover will go down the ramp to the surface at around 12-1 am EDT (0400-0500 UT). Other than a reset of the computer last night, which was not considered serious, the rover and lander are in good shape. Also, earlier today the Mars Pathfinder lander was officially named the "Sagan Memorial Station" after the late Carl Sagan. Update -- July 5 2300 UT (7:00pm EDT): NASA has reported that communications have been restored with the rover, clearing the way for Sojourner to start exploring the Martian surface later tonight. Update -- July 5 2215 UT (6:15pm EDT): Mars Pathfinder operations will begin later today. Controllers will check to see if the ramp the rover will use to roll down to the surface has deployed correctly. They will also attempt to correct the communications problem between the rover and the lander. The camera on the lander will also rise to its full height over 1.5 meters above ground level. If the problems with the rover can be corrected, the rover may begin operations at around 10:30pm EDT (0230 UT July 6). Update -- July 5 1000 UT (6:00am EDT): Efforts to move portions of the airbags that were in the way of the rover have apparently succeeded, but new problems have developed. The radio link between the rover and Pathfinder is not working, and mission engineers are currently working on ways to correct the problem so they can deploy the rover later today.
Update -- July 4 2300 UT (7:00pm EDT): At a 2230 UT (6:30 pm EDT) press conference, Pathfinder team members reported the spacecraft was healthy and was transmitting data using its low-gain antenna as its high-gain antenna was deployed and started searching for the Sun and Earth. According to one engineer, "the little engine that could, did." The first images may be returned within the next hour. Update -- July 4 1900 UT (3:00pm EDT): The lander has signaled that it has deflated its airbags and deployed its petals. All systems appear to be functioning normally. Update -- July 4 1708 UT (1:08pm EDT): NASA has received a signal confirming that Mars Pathfinder has landed on the surface of Mars! The radio signal will shut off now for approximately 4 hours while the air bags are deflated and spacecraft systems are deployed. The first images may be returned shortly after the transmitter is turned back on. Last Update: 1997 July 7 |
Update -- July 6 2:15am EDT (0615 UT):
The Sojourner rover is safely on the surface of Mars.
Images returned by Pathfinder showed the rover on the
ground by the lander. Just before the rover and lander
lost contact with the Earth at the end of the day, the rover
was commanded to lower its alpha proton x-ray spectrometer
into the soil to take measurements during the night.
Update -- July 5 11:10pm (0310 UT July 6):
JPL has received images from Mars Pathfinder which appear
to confirm that the ramp for the rover has deployed. This
will allow the rover to descend to the surface in the next
few hours.
Update -- July 4 9:50pm EDT (0150 UT July 5):
Pathfinder has returned a set of over 100 color images
of the surface of Mars, including panoramic images of the landscape. However, the deployment of the rover Sojourner
will be delayed because parts of the airbag that cushioned
the landing are sticking out from under the petal of the
lander on which the rover is located. Current plans
call for the petal to be raised while more of the airbag
is retracted. If the rover cannot be deployed by about
1am EDT mission controller will wait until tomorrow.
Update -- July 4 2340 UT (7:40pm EDT):
The first black-and-white, highly-compressed images have
been returned by Pathfinder. The images show the area
around the lander, including the deflated air bags and
the Martian surface. The high-gain antenna is working
properly. High-resolution color images should be returned
in the near future.