Mariner 6 and 7
Robotic spacecraft sent to Mars in 1969 / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mariner 6 and Mariner 7 (Mariner Mars 69A and Mariner Mars 69B) were two uncrewed NASA robotic spacecraft that completed the first dual mission to Mars in 1969 as part of NASA's wider Mariner program. Mariner 6 was launched from Launch Complex 36B at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station[5] and Mariner 7 from Launch Complex 36A.[4] The two craft flew over the equator and south polar regions, analyzing the atmosphere and the surface with remote sensors, and recording and relaying hundreds of pictures. The mission's goals were to study the surface and atmosphere of Mars during close flybys, in order to establish the basis for future investigations, particularly those relevant to the search for extraterrestrial life, and to demonstrate and develop technologies required for future Mars missions. Mariner 6 also had the objective of providing experience and data which would be useful in programming the Mariner 7 encounter five days later.
Mission type | Flyby Mars |
---|---|
Operator | NASA / JPL |
COSPAR ID | 1969-014A |
SATCAT no. | 3759 |
Mission duration | 1 year, 9 months and 27 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Launch mass | 381 kg[1] |
Power | 449 W |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | February 25, 1969, 01:29:02 (1969-02-25UTC01:29:02Z) UTC[2] |
Rocket | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-36B |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Decommissioned |
Deactivated | December 23, 1970 (1970-12-24) |
Flyby of Mars | |
Closest approach | July 31, 1969 |
Distance | 3,431 kilometers (2,132 mi) |
Mission type | Flyby Mars |
---|---|
Operator | NASA / JPL |
COSPAR ID | 1969-030A |
SATCAT no. | 3837 |
Mission duration | 1 year and 9 months |
Spacecraft properties | |
Manufacturer | Jet Propulsion Laboratory |
Launch mass | 381 kg[3] |
Power | 449 W |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | March 27, 1969, 22:22:00 (1969-03-27UTC22:22Z) UTC[4] |
Rocket | Atlas SLV-3D Centaur-D1A |
Launch site | Cape Canaveral LC-36A |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Decommissioned |
Deactivated | December 28, 1970 (1970-12-29) |
Flyby of Mars | |
Closest approach | August 5, 1969 |
Distance | 3,430 kilometers (2,130 mi) |