Pathfinder on Mars

Pathfinder lost contact a long time ago, but we still have pictures

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This is a picture of Pathfinder on Mars. This picture was taken in the Ares Vallis, where Pathfinder landed. Pathfinder used an innovative system to land on the surface of Mars. It used parachutes to slow the descent and then airbags to cushion the landing. This saved us from having to use massive amounts of fuel slowing Pathfinder down using thrusters.[1]

Pathfinder has had many great discoveries. The Ares Vallis showed that Mars most likely had a warmer and wetter past. This is shown clearly by this picture, which shows a floodplain, which is covered in rounded rocks. These rocks could only have been smoothed down by liquid water. [2]

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