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Mars 4

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Mars 4
Mission typeMars orbiter[1]
OperatorSoviet space program
COSPAR ID1973-047AEdit this at Wikidata
SATCATno.6742
Mission duration203 days, 20 hours and 7 minutes
Spacecraft properties
Spacecraft3MSNo.52S
ManufacturerLavochkin
Launch mass3,440 kilograms (7,580 lb) fully fueled[2]
Start of mission
Launch date21 July 1973, 19:30:59(1973-07-21UTC19:30:59Z)UTC[3]
RocketProton-K/D
Launch siteBaikonur81/23
End of mission
Last contact10 February 1974, 15:38 UTC
Orbital parameters
Reference systemHeliocentric[4]
Perihelion altitude1.02 AU
Aphelion altitude1.63 AU
Inclination2.2°
Period556 days
Flyby ofMars(failed orbiter)
Closest approach10 February 1974, 15:34 UTC
Distance1,844 km (1,146 mi)

Mars 4(Russian:Марс-4), also known as3MS No.52Swas aSovietspacecraft intended to explore Mars. A 3MS spacecraft launched as part of theMars programme,it was intended to enter orbit around Mars in 1974. However, computer problems prevented orbital insertion from occurring.[5]

Spacecraft[edit]

The Mars 4 spacecraft carried an array of instruments to study Mars. In addition to cameras, it was equipped with a radio telescope, an IRradiometer,multiplephotometers,polarimeters,amagnetometer,plasma traps,anelectrostatic analyzer,agamma-ray spectrometer,and a radio probe.[6]

Built by Lavochkin, Mars 4 was the first of two 3MS spacecraft launched to Mars in 1973, being followed byMars 5.A 3MS was also launched during the 1971 launch window asKosmos 419.However, due to a launch failure, it failed to depart Earth orbit. In addition to the orbiters, two 3MP lander missions,Mars 6andMars 7,were launched during the 1973 window.

Launch[edit]

Mars 4 was launched by a Proton-K carrier rocket, a Blok D upper stage, flying from Baikonur Cosmodrome Site 81/23.[3]The launch occurred at 19:30:59 UTC on 21 July 1973, with the first three stages placing the spacecraft and upper stage into alow Earthparking orbitbefore the Blok D fired to propel Mars 4 into heliocentric orbit bound for Mars.

Shortly after performing a course correction on 30 July 1973, two onboard computers failed, leaving Mars 4 unable to perform maneuvers. As a result of this, it was unable to enter orbit around Mars. Twelve photographs were taken on 10 February 1974 from 15:32 UTC to 15:38 UTC as the probe flew past Mars with a closest approach of 1,844 kilometres (1,146 mi) at 15:34 UTC.[7]

Scientific Instruments[edit]

Mars 4 orbiter carried 15 scientific instruments on board to study Mars from orbital trajectory[6]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^Krebs, Gunter."Interplanetary Probes".Gunter's Space Page.Retrieved12 April2013.
  2. ^"Mars 4".NASA.Retrieved6 December2018.
  3. ^abMcDowell, Jonathan."Launch Log".Jonathan's Space Page.Retrieved12 April2013.
  4. ^Mark Wade."Mars M-73".Encyclopedia Astronautica.Retrieved26 May2024.
  5. ^"Mars 4".US National Space Science Data Centre.Retrieved12 April2013.
  6. ^abSiddiqi, Asif A. (2002). "1973".Deep Space Chronicle: A Chronology of Deep Space and Planetary Probes 1958-2000(PDF).Monographs in Aerospace History, No. 24. NASA History Office. pp. 101–106.Archived(PDF)from the original on 25 September 2004.
  7. ^Siddiqi, Asif A. (2016). Beyond Earth: A Chronicle of Deep Space Exploration 1958-2016, NASA History Program Office,http:// nasa.gov/ebooks.

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