Re: What Are the [Mars] Numbers Now?

Ed Kyle wrote:
John Schutkeker wrote:
A while back, the fraction of Mars missions that ended in disaster was 1/3,
but that was before several resounding successes. Assuming that MRO
doesn't break down any time soon, what is the new ratio of successes to
failures?

According to a story about MRO in the March 11 Washington
Post, 21 of 35 Mars-bound spacecraft have failed during the
45 year history of Mars exploration. I'm not sure about those
numbers, or how they were counted.

According to The Cambridge Encyclopedia of Space, Russia
suffered 11 failures in 16 Mars missions, NASA suffered
5 failures in 17 missions, and Europe suffered 1 failure in
two missions - a total of 17 failures in 35 missions.

NASA's Mars missions include the following, listed by year
of launch.

Flyby Missions

Mariner 3 (FAILED) 1964
Mariner 4 1964
Mariner 6 1969
Mariner 7 1969

Orbiter/Lander Missions

Mariner 8 (FAILED orbiter) 1971
Mariner 9 (orbiter) 1971
Viking 1 (orbiter/lander) 1975
Viking 2 (orbiter/lander) 1975
Mars Observer (FAILED orbiter) 1992
Mars Global Surveyor (orbiter) 1996
Mars Pathfinder (lander) 1996
Mars Climate orbiter (FAILED orbiter) 1998
Mars Polar Lander (FAILED lander) 1999
Mars Odyssey (orbiter) 2001
Mars Expedition Rover A (lander) 2003
Mars Expedition Rover B (lander) 2003
Mars Reconnaisannce Orbiter (orbiter) 2005

I just realized that with the MRO orbit insertion
(and assuming that all continues to go O.K.),
NASA has just recorded its longest consecutive
string of Mars mission successes (four).

- Ed Kyle

.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: What Are the Numbers Now?
    ... 45 year history of Mars exploration. ... suffered 11 failures in 16 Mars missions, ... Mariner 3 1964 ... Mariner 8 (FAILED orbiter) 1971 ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: What Are the Numbers Now?
    ... 45 year history of Mars exploration. ... suffered 11 failures in 16 Mars missions, ... Mariner 3 1964 ... Mariner 8 (FAILED orbiter) 1971 ...
    (sci.space.policy)
  • Re: Great Martian Ghoul: anyone have a list of his meals?
    ... Mariner 4 ... Mars 2 (orbiter was partially successful, ...
    (sci.space.history)
  • NASAs Orbiter Nears Red PLanet Rendezvous (MRO)
    ... NASA'S ORBITER NEARS RED PLANET RENDEZVOUS ... NASA's Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter is nearing a crucial milestone. ... Before the orbiter can begin its mission, ...
    (sci.space.news)
  • Re: OT MGS
    ... Here is a link to a description of the MRO project, and spacecraft ... "MRO The Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter Mission Abstract- ...
    (sci.space.shuttle)