The last time the space agency tried was in 1999 when the Mars Polar Lander angling for the south pole crashed after prematurely cutting off its engines.

• 航天局上次进行火星着陆尝试的时间是1999年，当时，火星极地登陆探测器在靠近南极时，因过早关闭发动机而坠毁。