| Lander Spacecraft |
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A lander spacecraft lands on the surface of a planet or moon and transmits information back to Earth. It may have a powered descent and landing or use a parachute to reach the surface. Because of possible harsh conditions at the landing sites, this is a dangerous mission. Upon arriving, the spacecraft performs chemical composition analyses and takes color photographs of the surface and telemeters data back to scientists on Earth. A rover is a special type of lander spacecraft in that it is a semi-autonomous vehicle that can be steered from Earth. It may also be solar-powered. Examples of Lander spacecraft include the Viking (Mars), Venera 13 (Venus), and Surveyor (Moon). |
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