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{{Short description|Cancelled NASA space exploration program}}
[[File:Mars Observer 2.jpg|thumb|''[[Mars Observer]]'', a Planetary Observer class spacecraft.]]
The '''Planetary Observer program''' is a cancelled [[space exploration]] program designed by [[NASA]] to provide cheaper planetary orbiters by using Earth-orbiting satellite components and technology, using solar panels for power, and a common spacecraft bus platform for all Planetary Observer-class probes. Only one spacecraft of this class was eventually constructed—the ''[[Mars Observer]]''.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/1992/11/6/19014815/nasa-picks-basic-spaceship-over-awesome-alternative/ |agency=Associated Press |title=NASA Picks Basic Spaceship Over Awesome Alternative |publisher=The Deseret News |date=November 6, 1992}}</ref><ref>Peter J. Westwick. ''Into the Black'', Yale University Press, 2007, pp.175</ref>

== History ==
After the flagship multibillion-dollar missions of the 1970s, in the 1980s NASA was looking for a new, more affordable direction for the 1990s and beyond. Two projects were conceived by NASA's Solar System Exploration Committee in 1983, the Planetary Observer program and ''[[Mariner Mark II]]''. The Observer program, starting with ''[[Mars Observer]]'', was envisioned as a series of low-cost missions to the inner Solar System, based on commercial Earth satellites. The Mariner Mark II, on the other hand, was to be a series of large spacecraft for the exploration of the outer Solar System.<ref>{{Cite news |first=John Noble |last=Wilford |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/07/science/nasa-turns-from-custom-design-to-standard-models.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=NASA Turns From Custom Design to Standard Models |work=The New York Times |date=March 7, 1989}}</ref>

The first Planetary Observer spacecraft to be approved was ''Mars Observer'', in 1985.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Jonathan |last=Eberhart |title=New starts and tough choices at NASA |journal=Science News |date=October 19, 1985 |volume=128 |issue=16 |page=250 |doi=10.2307/3970053 |jstor=3970053 |url=http://www.thefreelibrary.com/New+starts+and+tough+choices+at+NASA.-a03984543|url-access=subscription }}</ref> ''Lunar Observer'' (LO), proposed for a 1997 launch,<ref>{{Cite news |first=William J. |last=Broad |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/17/us/new-phase-on-the-moon-us-weighs-a-return.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm |title=New Phase on the Moon: U.S. Weighs a Return |work=The New York Times |date=July 17, 1989}}</ref> would have been sent into a long-term lunar orbit at 60 miles above the Moon's poles. The Mercury Observer (MO) was also proposed for a 1997 launch. However, congressionally imposed reductions to FY 1992-93 funding requirements forced NASA to terminate the Planetary Observer program, with just ''Mars Observer'' funded.

=== ''Mars Observer'' ===
{{main|Mars Observer}}
''Mars Observer'' was a robotic spacecraft designed to study the [[geoscience]] and climate of [[Mars]]. The first of the proposed Observer series of planetary missions, it was launched by [[NASA]] on September 25, 1992. Three days before ''Mars Observer'' was scheduled to enter the orbit of Mars, contact with the spacecraft was lost. Attempts to re-establish communication with the spacecraft were unsuccessful.

A few photographs were indeed taken, and these were the bulk of data collected.

{{Gallery|align=center|width=175 |File:Mars Observer - m1.gif|alt1=First image of Mars taken by MOC on July 27, 1993 |{{small|First image of [[Mars]] taken by ''MOC'' on July 27, 1993.}}
|File:Mars Observer - m2.gif|alt2=Second narrow-angle MOC image of Mars, acquired one hour after the first |{{small|Second ''MOC'' image of Mars, acquired one hour after the first.}}
|File:Mars Observer - wa-mars.gif|alt3=Among the last of the images acquired by Mars Observer and one of few that were color, the image was acquired by the wide-angle camera |{{small|One of few wide-angle images by ''Mars Observer'' that were in color.}}
|File:Mars Observer - jup.gif|alt4=Jupiter as imaged by MOC en route to Mars |{{small|[[Jupiter]] as imaged by ''MOC'' en route to Mars.}}
}}

=== ''Lunar Observer'' ===
The ''Lunar Observer'' program was started with an estimated budget of US$500–700 million. The proposed orbit was {{Convert|70|km|abbr=on}} above the surface. The ''Lunar Observer'' spacecraft garnered some attention from the Soviet Union, and there was a suggestion that they might cooperate with NASA to field some instruments for it.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/2/25/18849962/2-satellites-to-orbit-moon-in-96-u-physicist-says/ |first=Bruce |last=Hills |title=2 Satellites to Orbit Moon in '96, U. physicist says |work=The Deseret News |date=February 25, 1990 |page=A1}}</ref>

''Lunar Observer'' was proposed for FY1991 at US$188 million by President George H.W. Bush.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.deseret.com/1990/5/12/18861173/mars-expedition-tab-may-be-astronomical/ |first=Harry F. |last=Rosenthal |title=Mars Expedition Tab May Be Astronomical |agency=Associated Press |publisher=The Deseret News |date=May 12, 1990}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{NASA planetary exploration programs}}
{{NASA navbox}}
{{Mars spacecraft}}
{{Moon spacecraft}}
{{Mercury spacecraft}}

{{Use American English|date=January 2014}}

[[Category:NASA programs]]
[[Category:Cancelled NASA space probes]]
[[Category:Missions to the Moon]]
[[Category:Missions to Mars]]

Planetary Observer program - Revision history

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