2007 Db 7000-14000 Mars Odyssey and Mars Rover Missions to Mars, Mint Sheet of 4 Stamps, St. Thomas & Prince Islands

Mint Stamps Honor
U.S. Missions to Mars

Mars has intrigued mankind for thousands of years.  With the advent of rocket technology and the space race, we finally gained the ability to study the red planet in the 1960s.  For several years, probes studied the planet from space and in 1975, the Viking missions landed and studied the surface.

In 1997, the Mars Pathfinder became the first in a series of rovers to explore the planet’s surface.  During its 85 days exploring Mars, the Pathfinder measured weather, geology, and the planet’s atmosphere.  In the years since, NASA has sent three other rovers to explore the surface of Mars. 

In 2001, NASA launched the Mars Odyssey Orbiter to map the planet’s water, chemical elements and minerals.  A major goal of the Odyssey mission has been to discern if life ever existed on Mars.  In 2010, the Odyssey became the longest serving spacecraft on Mars and is expected to remain functional until 2025.

You can make these important missions to Mars part of your collection – order your mint sheet today.