Future Missions to Mars

Name of Mission

Country

Date of Launch

Comments

Planet B

Japan

August 1998
Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) will launch this probe to study the Martian environment. This will be the first Japanese spacecraft to reach another planet.

Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter

U.S.A.

December 1998
This orbiter is the companion spacecraft to the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander. The spacecraft will study the planet from polar orbit for at least 1.9 years using a variety of advanced instruments.

Mars Surveyor '98 Lander

U.S.A.

1999
The lander is the companion spacecraft to the Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter. The lander will study the Martian south pole. It will be equipped with meteorological equipment to study the weather and a robotic arm to dig trenches in the soil.

Mars Surveyor 2001

  U.S.A.

2001
This is part of NASA's 10-year program to launch a series of probes to the Red Planet during periods of favorable launch opportunities.

Mars Surveyor 2003

  U.S.A.

2003
This is part of NASA's 10-year program to launch a series of probes to the Red Planet during periods of favorable launch opportunities.

Mars Surveyor 2005

  U.S.A.
2005 This mission will return soil samples for analysis on Earth.

Name of Mission	Country	Date of Launch	Comments
Planet B	Japan	August 1998	Japan's Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS) will launch this probe to study the Martian environment. This will be the first Japanese spacecraft to reach another planet.
Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter	U.S.A.	December 1998	This orbiter is the companion spacecraft to the Mars Surveyor '98 Lander. The spacecraft will study the planet from polar orbit for at least 1.9 years using a variety of advanced instruments.
Mars Surveyor '98 Lander	U.S.A.	1999	The lander is the companion spacecraft to the Mars Surveyor '98 Orbiter. The lander will study the Martian south pole. It will be equipped with meteorological equipment to study the weather and a robotic arm to dig trenches in the soil.
Mars Surveyor 2001	U.S.A.	2001	This is part of NASA's 10-year program to launch a series of probes to the Red Planet during periods of favorable launch opportunities.
Mars Surveyor 2003	U.S.A.	2003	This is part of NASA's 10-year program to launch a series of probes to the Red Planet during periods of favorable launch opportunities.
Mars Surveyor 2005	U.S.A.	2005	This mission will return soil samples for analysis on Earth.