The Mars Climate Orbiter is lifted up the Pad 17A gantry

[KSC-98PC-1765]

  • Photo Number: KSC-98PC-1765

  • Release Date: 30-Nov-1998

    • Description: Wrapped in a protective covering, the Mars Climate Orbiter with its upper stage booster is lifted up at Launch Complex 17, Pad A, Cape Canaveral Air Station, in preparation for mating to the second stage of a Boeing Delta II (7425) rocket. Targeted for liftoff on Dec. 10, 1998, the orbiter will be the first spacecraft to be launched in the pair of Mars '98 missions. After its arrival at the red planet, the Mars Climate Orbiter will be used primarily to support its companion Mars Polar Lander spacecraft, scheduled for launch on Jan. 3, 1999. The orbiter will then monitor the Martian atmosphere and image the planet's surface on a daily basis for one Martian year, the equivalent of about two Earth years. The spacecraft will observe the appearance and movement of atmospheric dust and water vapor, and characterize seasonal changes on the planet's surface.

    Resolution Format Width
    (Pixels)    		 Height
    (Pixels)    		 Size
    (Bytes)
    Thumbnail GIF 66 100 10072
    Slide GIF 110 156 24880
    Low GIF 158 240 54425
    Medium JPEG 505 768 100182
    High JPEG 1722 2617 1022984

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    Last Updated: Friday August 13 18:40:12 EDT 1998 (Anita Barrett)

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