When did the Soviet Union launch the first Phobos probe?
The Soviet Union launched the first Phobos probe on the 7th of July 1988. A second probe followed five days later on the 12th of July 1988.
Questions about Phobos program
Short answers, pulled from the story.
What caused the failure of the first Phobos mission in September 1988?
Software uploaded between the 29th of August and the 30th of August deactivated attitude thrusters needed for steering. This code contained a fatal command sequence meant only for ground testing that engineers left inside the computer due to time pressure.
How many images of Phobos did the second probe return before communications failed?
The second probe returned 37 images of Phobos with resolutions up to 40 meters. Communications failed before planned deployment of a lander module while the spacecraft still orbited successfully.
Which international partners contributed instruments to the Phobos program?
Fourteen nations contributed resources including Sweden, France, West Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the United States. Swedish researchers developed the ASPERA electron spectrometer while French teams created the thermal infrared spectrometer system.
Where can scientists access processed images from the Phobos missions today?
Public databases host processed images from the Russian Space Agency and the Space Research Institute released enhanced versions of original photographs. Researchers use these materials to study surface features and geological history through online archives.