Recovery of Flight Projects

Robotic Exploration of the Solar System

“…It was intended that this mission would test targeting techniques for interceptors designed to protect Earth from hazardous asteroids. 406,407 There were also extensive studies of asteroid missions in the United States. For example, multiple asteroid reconnaissance missions were investigated using either ballistic trajectories (with and without planetary slingshots) or ion propulsion, with trajectories being identified in the latter case for low-speed rendezvous encounters with more than half-a-dozen asteroids.…”

“…The decision to power off the transmitter during the tank pressurization followed from the decision by the program managers to save $375,000 by not doing tests to determine whether the delicate electronics could be safely operated. 403,404,405,406,407 Martin Marietta,``in light of the unsuccessful mission'', returned the $17 million that it had been paid, and renounced its claim to $21.3 million for the operational performance expected of the spacecraft while orbiting Mars. 408 There was a rumor that Mars Observer 2 would be built from spare components, but this was not to be.…”