Nozomi

Planet-B

Mission Profile

Nozomi (Planet-B) was JAXA's first Mars orbiter, launched on 3 July 1998 aboard an M-V rocket, intended to study the Martian upper atmosphere and interaction with the solar wind. A series of technical problems including a valve malfunction and a solar flare that damaged its power and communication systems left the spacecraft with insufficient propellant to properly enter Mars orbit. After a series of gravity assist maneuvers added years to its cruise phase, Nozomi made a final approach to Mars in December 2003 but had to abandon the orbit insertion and flew past instead. Despite never achieving its science objectives at Mars, Nozomi returned valuable data about the interplanetary environment during its extended cruise and established JAXA's capability for complex interplanetary navigation.