Japanese Nozomi Spacecraft Misses Mars Orbit
By Staff Writer | December 9, 2003
The Canadian Space Agency (CSA) has confirmed that the Japanese satellite Nozomi has been rerouted away from Mars by the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). Crucial orbit insertion maneuvers were impossible to achieve because of defective equipment aboard the spacecraft and the mission has been canceled.
Canada was a partner in the Mars mission with a C$5million ($3.8 million) Canadian-built scientific instrument onboard – the thermal plasma analyzer designed to analyze the Martian atmosphere.