How NASA scientists recovered from a devastating mission loss to map Mars again
After the Mars Observer mission failed, the Goddard team faced a critical setback. This video details their resilience as they regrouped to build a second laser altimeter for the Mars Global Surveyor, including a vital test flight on the Space Shuttle to ensure their technology would succeed.
The loss of the Mars Observer was a major blow to the Goddard Space Flight Center team. Rather than abandoning their goals, the scientists and engineers pivoted to develop a second Mars Observer Laser Altimeter (MOLA) for the subsequent Mars Global Surveyor mission. This chapter of the lidar history series highlights the technical challenges and the team's determination to refine their instruments.
To validate their work before the return to Mars, the team utilized the Space Shuttle as a testing platform. This process reflects the broader legacy of Goddard's leadership in laser altimetry, a field that has fundamentally changed how researchers map Earth, the Moon, and other planets. The series draws on archival footage and interviews with key figures like James Garvin, David E. Smith, and James Abshire to document these high-stakes engineering efforts.
