Mars 3
Soviet space probe launched in 1971, consisting of a Mars orbiter and lander / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mars 3 was a robotic space probe of the Soviet Mars program, launched May 28, 1971, nine days after its twin spacecraft Mars 2. The probes were identical robotic spacecraft launched by Proton-K rockets with a Blok D upper stage, each consisting of an orbiter and an attached lander. After the Mars 2 lander crashed on the Martian surface, the Mars 3 lander became the first spacecraft to attain a soft landing on Mars, on December 2, 1971. It failed 110 seconds after landing, having transmitted only a gray image with no details.[4] The Mars 2 orbiter and Mars 3 orbiter continued to circle Mars and transmit images back to Earth for another eight months.
Quick Facts Mission type, Operator ...
Mission type | orbiter and lander |
---|---|
Operator | Soviet Union |
COSPAR ID | Orbiter: 1971-049A Lander: 1971-049C |
SATCAT no. | Orbiter: 5252 Lander: 5667 |
Mission duration | Orbiter: 452 days |
Spacecraft properties | |
Launch mass | Combined: 4,650 kg (10,250 lb) Orbiter: 3,440 kg (7,580 lb) Lander: 1,210 kg (2,670 lb)[1] |
Start of mission | |
Launch date | 15:26:30, May 28, 1971 (UTC) (1971-05-28T15:26:30Z) |
Rocket | Proton-K with Blok D upper stage |
End of mission | |
Disposal | Decommissioned |
Deactivated | August 22, 1972 (1972-08-22) (orbiter) |
Last contact | Last data transmission July 1972[2] |
Orbital parameters | |
Reference system | Areocentric |
Mars orbiter | |
Orbital insertion | December 2, 1971 |
Orbital parameters | |
Periareion altitude | 1,500 km (930 mi) |
Apoareion altitude | 211,400 km (131,400 mi) |
Inclination | 60° |
Mars lander | |
Spacecraft component | Mars 3 Lander |
Landing date | December 2, 1971 13:52 UTC |
Landing site | 45°S 202°E (predicted)[3] |
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