Russian space probe intended to orbit Mars. The craft launched from Baikonur Cosmodrome on 16 November 1996 aboard a Proton rocket. It achieved Earth orbit but failed to achieve insertion into Mars cruise trajectory; Mars 96 re-entered the Earth's atmosphere on 17 November 1996 and crashed within a presumed 320 km by 80 km area which includes parts of the Pacific Ocean, Chile, and Bolivia. The cause of the crash is not known.