On this day in space! Nov. 7, 1992: NASA launches Mars Global Surveyor, its 1st Mars mission in 20 years at the time, to map the Red Planet like never before

On Nov. 7, 1996, NASA introduced its Mars Global Surveyor objective. This was the very first objective NASA sent out to Mars in nearly 20 years!The Mars Global Surveyor spacecraft was an orbiter. It sent information from NASA’s Mars rovers Sojourner Spirit and Chance back to Earth. The spacecraft likewise did a great deal of its own science. It discovered surface area channels on Mars that appeared to have actually been produced by running water.Mars Global Surveyor took a look at the south pole of Mars and saw indications of possible environment modification. It likewise saw a mineral called hematite on Mars. Hematite typically forms in water. NASA then sent its Spirit and Opportunity rovers to search for the hematite, and both rovers discovered it near their landing websites.Mars Global Surveyor made it through a lot longer than anticipated. An area maneuver mistakenly exposed one of its batteries to the sun, and the spacecraft lost power. It fell quiet permanently in November 2006

“The mission overhauled scientists’ understanding of Mars by studying the entire Martian surface, atmosphere and interior. Major findings included dramatic evidence that water still flows on Mars in short bursts down hillside gullies, and the identification of water-related mineral deposits leading to selection of a Mars rover landing site for a subsequent mission,” check out a NASA description of the probe.