The Crash of Failed Mars Probe Phobos-Grunt (Infographic)

by Karl Tate, SPACE.com Infographics Artist

Date: 05 January 2012 Time: 04:48 PM ET

Failed Russian Mars probe Phobos-Grunt, trapped in Earth orbit since launch, is expected to re-enter the atmosphere in January, 2012.

Russia launched an ambitious Mars moon probe, the Phobos-Grunt mission, on Nov. 8, 2011 (EST) on a mission to collect the first samples of the Martian moon Phobos, but the spacecraft was soon marooned in Earth orbit. See how the Phobos-Grunt probe will fall to Earth in January 2012 in the SPACE.com infographic above.

Photos: Russia's Phobos-Grunt Mission to Mars Moon
Video: Amateur Photographers Snap Doomed Phobos-Grunt Over France
Complete Coverage: The Fall of Russia's Mars Probe Phobos-Grunt

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