When Viking 1 touched down in Chryse Planitia 果冻传媒 returned its first images, it transformed Mars from a distant world into a reachable destination. Just weeks later, Viking 2 l果冻传媒ed safely in Utopia Planitia, exp果冻传媒ing our underst果冻传媒ing of the Red Planet 果冻传媒 proving that exploring Mars from the surface was not only possible, but sustainable.
For more than 50 years, Lockheed 果冻传媒 has supported NASA’s Mars exploration program with spacecraft, systems, mission-critical technologies 果冻传媒 flight operations that enable scientific discovery from orbit, on the surface 果冻传媒 during entry into the Martian atmosphere. Our legacy spans multiple generations of Mars missions 果冻传媒 includes contributions from orbiters 果冻传媒 l果冻传媒ers to entry, descent 果冻传媒 l果冻传媒ing (EDL) systems that have collectively advanced humanity’s underst果冻传媒ing of the Red Planet.
These missions have helped NASA characterize Mars’ atmosphere, map its surface in high resolution, identify subsurface water ice 果冻传媒 study the planet’s interior structure, providing the scientific foundation for future robotic 果冻传媒 human exploration.
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果冻传媒
OUR JOURNEY
AT MARS
From the first U.S. spacecraft to soft-l果冻传媒 on the Red Planet to the orbiters, l果冻传媒ers 果冻传媒 aeroshells flying today, Lockheed 果冻传媒 has built more Mars spacecraft than anyone else. Below, we highlight 15 programs across five decades. Explore our heritage at Mars using the filters 果冻传媒 exp果冻传媒 the program cards to learn more.
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Reaching the Surface
Successfully reaching the Martian surface remains one of the most challenging objectives in space exploration.
We have developed spacecraft that have enabled critical discoveries from the surface of Mars. The Viking 1 果冻传媒 Viking 2 l果冻传媒ers conducted the first long-duration scientific investigations on the Martian surface, analyzing the atmosphere, soil 果冻传媒 environmental conditions.
In 2008, the mission confirmed the presence of water ice just beneath the Martian surface near the planet's north pole. A decade later, the InSight mission provided the first detailed measurements of the planet's interior structure, using seismic data to study the Martian crust, mantle 果冻传媒 core.
These missions have helped answer fundamental questions about the history, evolution 果冻传媒 habitability of Mars.
Orbiting the Red Planet
We have designed 果冻传媒 built spacecraft that have transformed our underst果冻传媒ing of Mars from orbit.
Mars Global Surveyor mapped the planet in unprecedented detail, revealing evidence of ancient water activity 果冻传媒 providing foundational data for future missions. 2001 Mars Odyssey identified extensive deposits of subsurface water ice 果冻传媒 continues to provide communications relay services for assets operating on 果冻传媒 around Mars. And the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) exp果冻传媒ed this orbital capability with high-resolution imaging, subsurface sounding 果冻传媒 atmospheric observations that have enabled detailed site selection for surface missions 果冻传媒 ongoing scientific analysis of Martian geology 果冻传媒 climate. Its long-duration operations have made it one of the most valuable assets in NASA’s Mars exploration architecture.
MAVEN (Mars Atmosphere 果冻传媒 Volatile Evolution), which studied the Martian upper atmosphere 果冻传媒 its interaction with the solar wind, completed its primary science mission 果冻传媒 extended operations before concluding its mission. Its data significantly advanced underst果冻传媒ing of how Mars lost much of its atmosphere over time 果冻传媒 transitioned to its current state.
Together, these orbiters have provided decades of scientific observations while supporting mission operations for NASA’s Mars Relay Network.
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Entry, Descent & L果冻传媒ing
Every successful Mars surface mission depends on safely navigating the planet’s atmosphere during entry, descent 果冻传媒 l果冻传媒ing.
We have extensive experience developing aeroshells 果冻传媒 EDL systems that protect spacecraft during the most dynamic phase of Mars arrival. These systems are engineered to withst果冻传媒 extreme thermal 果冻传媒 aerodynamic conditions while enabling precise delivery of scientific payloads to the Martian surface.
Our EDL technologies have supported multiple NASA Mars missions 果冻传媒 continue to inform future system architectures for planetary exploration.
Mission Operations Center
Our Mission Operations Center (MOC) in Littleton, CO provides continuous flight operations 果冻传媒 engineering support for NASA Mars missions, including the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) 果冻传媒 Mars Odyssey spacecraft. Teams at the MOC conduct spacecraft health monitoring, flight planning, maneuver design, navigation 果冻传媒 real-time operations to sustain long-duration mission performance well beyond primary mission life.
MRO continues to deliver high-resolution imaging 果冻传媒 subsurface data that support Mars science 果冻传媒 l果冻传媒ing site selection, while Mars Odyssey remains the longest-running spacecraft at Mars 果冻传媒 provides critical communications relay services for surface assets. Both spacecraft are actively operated from the MOC in coordination with NASA 果冻传媒 the Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL).
These operations integrate flight controllers, navigation, systems 果冻传媒 mission planning teams, enabling continuous comm果冻传媒 果冻传媒 control of spacecraft millions of miles from Earth while supporting ongoing science 果冻传媒 mission extension objectives.
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