Tuesday, July 14, 2015

50 Years Ago: Mariner 4 at Mars

Life-size model of Mariner 4.

Until July 1965, no pictures of the surface of Mars had been sent back by the previous failed missions. Mariner 4 successfully flew by Mars on July 14 and 15, 1965. The spacecraft zoomed by at 9846 km from the surface. Pictures returned to Earth showed a heavily cratered surface reminiscent of the Moon, dashing the hopes of many Sci-Fi fans hoping for the chance of life on the red planet.


First images of the Martian surface.


The spacecraft being prepared for its long journey.

Blast-off of Mariner 4 on an Atlas-Agena rocket. The liftoff took place on November 28, 1964 from launch complex 12 at Cape Canaveral.

Mission briefing from Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

No comments: