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Catalog Data

Materials:
Steel, Paint, Aluminum/Anodized Aluminum, Plastic, Natural Fabric, Adhesive, Cardboard, Paper, Wood, Brass, Rubber, Zinc Plating
Dimensions:
Overall (Tool Box): 1ft 1 1/2in. x 7 1/4in. x 4 3/4in. (34.29 x 18.42 x 12.07cm)
Overall (Black Anodized Aluminum Part): 6 9/16in. x 2 15/16in. x 1 1/16in. (16.67 x 7.46 x 2.7cm)
Type:
SPACECRAFT-Uncrewed-Parts & Structural Components
Country of Origin:
United States of America
Summary:
Mars Pathfinder was the first spacecraft to land on the surface of the red planet since the Viking mission in 1976. The artifact is a full-scale engineering prototype for a spacecraft that was launched on December 4, 1996. On reaching Mars on July 4, 1997, the spacecraft entered the planet's thin atmosphere, was slowed by a parachute and then rockets, and then landed by bouncing on inflated airbags. The protective aeroshell then unfolded to provide the three flat platforms, one of which held a rover (Sojourner).
These tools and hardware were transferred to the Museum with the Pathfinder engineering model from the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory in 1999.
Credit Line:
Transferred from Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology
Inventory Number:
A19990073005
Restrictions & Rights:
Usage conditions apply
See more items in:
National Air and Space Museum Collection
Data Source:
National Air and Space Museum
GUID:
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/nv9ce86eb2b-4b42-4b48-a885-5cce555d1bc5
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:nasm_A19990073005