Mariner 9

Mariner 9 launch

Mariner 9 (Mariner Mars '71 / Mariner-I) was a NASA space probe orbiter that helped in the exploration of Mars and was part of the Mariner program. Mariner 9 was launched toward Mars on May 30, 1971 from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station and reached the planet on November 14 of the same year, becoming the first spacecraft to orbit another planet — only narrowly beating Soviet Mars 2 and Mars 3, which both arrived within a month. After months of dust-storms it managed to send back surprisingly clear pictures of the surface.

Objectives

Mariner 9 was designed to continue the atmospheric studies begun by Mariner 6 and 7, and to map over 70% of the Martian surface from the lowest altitude (1500 kilometers [about 900 miles]) and at the highest resolutions (1 kilometer per pixel to 100 meters per pixel) of any Mars mission up to that time. An infrared radiometer was included to detect heat sources as evidence of volcanic activity. It was to study temporal changes in the Martian atmosphere and surface. Mars' two moons were also to be analyzed. Mariner 9 more than met its objectives.

Instruments

1. Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS)
2. Infrared Interferometer Spectrometer (IRIS)
3. Celestial Mechanics
4. S-Band Occultation
5. Infrared Radiometer (IRR)
6. Television Photography

There were 0 achievements it was so useless!! : ( its a dog hump dog world doods!!

Construction

The ultraviolet spectrometer aboard Mariner 9 was constructed by the Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics.

Present location

Mariner 9 is still in Mars orbit, stable until at least 2022, after which the spacecraft will enter the Martian atmosphere.

See also

• Exploration of Mars
• Space exploration
• Unmanned space missions

External links

• Mariner 9 Mission Profile by NASA's Solar System Exploration
• NSSDC Master Catalog: Spacecraft - Mariner 9
• NASA-JPL Guide to Mariner 9