Sep 30, 2015 6:30 AM

Gallery: How to Get to Mars ... And Maybe Even Live There

NASA
01
1964-mariner3
X 1964: Mariner 3 Fails to eject its protective shield; the added weight throws it off trajectory.
NASA
02
1964-mariner04
1965: Mariner 4 Completes a successful flyby, returning images and readings of the planet’s atmosphere.

NASA
03
1969-mariner06-07
1969: Mariners 6 & 7 Complete flybys studying the surface and atmosphere to de-termine if Mars might host life.
NASA
04
1971-Mariner-8---9
X 1971: Mariner 8 Flyby mission fails on launch when the engine and spacecraft separate. 1971: Mariner 9 Reaches Mars orbit successfully and is the first craft to orbit another planet.

NASA
05
1992-mars-observer
X 1993: Mars Observer Contact is lost with the orbiter three days before it reaches the planet.
NASA
06
1996-Sojourner-on-Mars-PIA01122
1996: Pathfinder Brings the six-wheeled rover Sojourner to Mars.

NASA
07
1996-mars-global-surveyor
1998: Mars Global Surveyor Successfully orbits the planet to study its topography and surface composition.
NASA
08
1999-mars-polar-lander-mpl
X 1999: Mars Polar Lander Loses communication upon atmospheric entry and hasn’t been heard from since.

NASA
09
1999-ds2-probe
X 1999: Deep Space 2 Two probes attempt to penetrate the surface and sample Martian soil; contact is lost.
NASA
10
Mars-Climate-Orbiter-2
X 1999: Mars Climate Orbiter Disappears into the upper Martian atmosphere when it misses its target-altitude orbit.

NASA
11
2001-mars-odyssey--copy
2001: Mars Odyssey Orbiter reaches Mars safely and acts as a communications relay for the rovers Spirit and Opportunity.
NASA
12
2003-Spirit-exploration-rover
2003: Spirit Mission: Study the atmosphere; characterize rocks and soil as well as look for signs of water.

NASA
13
2003-Mars-Opportunity
2003: Opportunity Mission: same as Spirit’s.
NASA
14
2005-mars-reconnaissance-orbiter-PIA04918
2005: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Studies the Martian climate and surveys sites where future missions could land.

NASA
15
2007-phoenix
2007: Phoenix Lander Goes to study water history and habitability at the northern latitudes of Mars.
NASA
16
2011-curiosity-rover
2011: Curiosity The largest rover yet sent to the Red Planet successfully launches. It’s still going!

NASA
17
2013-maven-mars-limb
2013: Maven Orbiter Goes to study the atmosphere.
NASA/JPL/Caltech
18
2020-mars20150122-16
2020: NASA The agency plans to send a successor to Curiosity.

Inspiration Mars
19
Artist's rendering of a manned flyby of Mars in 2021. Inspiration Mars
2021: Inspiration Mars Private venture plans to slingshot around Mars and Venus to demonstrate its technology.
SpaceX
20
2026-SpaceX-CRS-1-launch-cropped

NASA
21
2030-mars-globe-valles-marineris-enhanced-full
2030: NASA Has vague plans to send humans to Mars.

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