Launch Overview
Vehicle
Delta 7925-9.5
Agency
United States Air Force
Site / Pad
CC / SLC17A
Outcome
Success
Flight
D298
COSPAR Designator
2003-027
Mission
Spirit Rover (Planetary Science)
Spirit, also known as MER-A, is a robotic rover on Mars, active from 2004 to 2010. It landed successfully within the impact crater Gusev on Mars at 04:35 Ground UTC on January 4, 2004, three weeks before its twin, Opportunity (MER-B), which landed on the other side of the planet. The rover became stuck in a "sand trap" in late 2009 at an angle that hampered recharging of its batteries; its last communication with Earth was sent on March 22, 2010.
Vehicle & Provider
Rocket
Delta II 7925-9.5
Provider
United States Air Force
Agency launches
1051 (7 YTD)
Site launches
611 (7 YTD)
Pad launches
133 (2 YTD)