Mars Global Surveyor: Aerobraking mission overview

The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft was launched on Nov. 6, 1996, and was c aptured into a highly elliptical, 45-h orbit around Mars with a 973 m/s pro pulsive maneuver on Sept, 12, 1997. A four-month aerobraking phase was supp osed to remove another 1200 mis to circularize the orbit. Unfortunately, on e of the two solar wings was damaged during deployment just after launch wh en the deployment damper failed. What has happened so far to achieve the or iginal mission objectives is described, and the plans for the future of the Mars Global Surveyor Spacecraft are discussed.