| Time
(UTC/GMT+0) | | Event |
|
|
| 1996-11-07 17:00:00 | | Launch from Cape Canaveral |
|
| 1997-09-12 01:30 | | Mars Orbit Insertion. First spacecraft to use aero-braking to achieve its final orbit. |
|
| 1999-04-01 | | Start of primary mapping phase |
|
| 2001-02-01 | | Start of first extended mission |
|
| 2002-02-01 | | Start of second extended mission |
|
| 2003-01-01 | | Start of data relay mission |
|
| 2004-03-30 | | Photographs Spirit and its wheeltracks |
|
| 2004-12-01 | | Start of science and mission support phase |
|
| 2005-04 | | Becomes first spacecraft to photograph another spacecraft (Mars Odyssey and Mars Express) outside the orbit of Earth |
|
| 2006-10-01 | | Start of further 2 year mission extension |
|
| 2006-11-02 | | Contact to spacecraft lost due to solar panel failure. |
|
| 2006-11-05 | | Very weak signals received. Spacecraft alive but uncontrolable |
|
| 2006-11-21 | | Mission declared dead |
|
| 2006-12-06 | | Images released indicate that water must have flown on Mars between 1999 and 2001 |
|
| 2007-04-13 | | Preliminary report on loss of signal causes. Link. |