La nau de 6.000-kg Mars 96 va estar llançada per un cohet Proton des de Baikonur (Kazakhstan), a les 20.48 UT el 16 de novembre. Portava un mòdul orbital, dos petits vehicles de superfície i dos sondes perforadores. No va poguer agafar la velocitat d'escapada i va tornar a caure a terra el dia 17 a les 1:32 GMT, entre la illa de Pasqua i la costa de Xile.
The responsable specialists are analyzing all available data in order to define the reason of failed insertion of the Mars96 on Cruise trajectory. We will continue to inform about results of this investigation.
Russian ballistic centers and special services including Russian Space Surveillance System and US SS Network were tracking the orbit of Mars96 in order to predict the time and place of its falling. Mars96 landed between Easter Island and Chilean coast at 4 hours 32 min Moscow Time ( 1:32 GMT ).
WE HAVE NO REASON FOR CONGRATULATION
November, 17 - Unsuccessful result of M96 mission
Mars-96 remains on Earth satellite orbit and will fall on Earth surface
Mars96 Launch:
Launch Site: Baikonur
Launch Date: 16 November 1996
Launch Time: 23:48:52.75 MSK (20:48.52.75 UTC)