What Method Was Used to Land the Mars Pathfinder Spacecraft

Multiple Choice

What method was used to land the Mars Pathfinder spacecraft successfully on the Martian surface?

A) It was surrounded by balloons, similar to the airbags in automobiles, and allowed to bounce and roll to a stop, after impact on the planet.
B) It was suspended beneath a large gas-filled balloon heated by sunlight allowing it to float in the atmosphere like a hot-air balloon until sunset, when it descended gently to the surface.
C) Retro rockets were fired automatically to slow it to a safe landing speed as it neared the surface.
D) It was flown down on a parachute similar to a hang glider to a smooth, if rather fast, landing.