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Fobos 1
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Fobos 1
Fobos 1 Mission to Mars

Goals: Fobos 1 and 2 were part of an ambitious Russian plan to explore Mars and its moon Phobos. Each spacecraft comprised an orbiter for long term studies of the planet and a lander to study geological and climatic conditions on Phobos.

Accomplishments: Contact was lost with the Fobos 1 before it reached Mars. The spacecraft flew past Mars without activating its science instruments or deploying its lander.

Key Dates
7 Jul 1988:  Launch
3 Nov 1988:  End of Mars Mission
Status: Contact Lost
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Fast Facts
Fobos 1 Facts Contact was lost with the Fobos 1 before it ever reached Mars orbit or its moon Phobos (right).

Fobos 1 carried twenty-four experiments provided by thirteen countries and the European Space Agency (ESA).

Both Fobos 1 and its sister mission, Fobos 2, failed to complete their missions. However, Fobos 2 did succeed in taking pictures of Mars' moon.
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Last Updated: 10 Dec 2010